The Clippers shocking win on Wednesday night gives them new life, but they still have to win their next two games. And the problem is the next one is at home. Huh? Clippers are 0-2 at home and 2-1 on the road in this series.
Hello, one and all, my name is John Cherwa, and I’m guest-hosting this here newsletter for a couple of weeks while Houston Mitchell is wondering why “Avengers: Endgame” will likely be longer than Game 6 of the Clippers-Warriors.
Guess we gave up on the Clippers a little early. Their shocking win on Wednesday night gives them new life, but they still have to win their next two games. And the problem is the next one is at home.
Huh?
Clippers are 0-2 at home and 2-1 on the road in this series. Maybe it’s the stench of the Lakers that is pulling them down at Staples Center.
How fast can they build that Inglewood Arena? By Friday? Didn’t think so, especially so near to Tom Ridge’s“terrorist twofer,” which AEG (owners of Staples) should still be ashamed of as one of the most far-reaching pieces of opposition research in a long time.
But, back to the Clippers. And who better to tell us about it than Andrew Greif, who no doubt had to cancel whatever dinner reservations he made for Friday night and possibly this weekend? Here’s part of what he wrote.
“After eight months and 86 games together, Doc Rivers knew his team.
“But in 20 seasons as an NBA coach, he’s learned never to get comfortable, too. Elimination games can reveal unforeseen things, and the Clippers’ coach had witnessed strong teams reach their breaking point and underdogs claw and scrape.
“And so, he was one of several Clippers looking Wednesday night for different signs to gauge their readiness in the hours and minutes before Game 5 at Oracle Arena. Rookie guard Landry Shamet watched teammate Patrick Beverley, whose energy has been a reliable barometer all season. Assistants waited to sense an edge, that unquantifiable but undeniable factor. Rivers wanted to see how the players meshed within the team’s game plan.
“But even though he had no way of knowing whether Wednesday would lead to the end, or another game, Rivers did offer a prediction, hours before tipoff.
“What Beverley and Danilo Gallinari started, Lou Williams ended. And with that, this series has not ended, not yet, not after a 129-121 victory that has forced a Game 6 Friday in Los Angeles. The Warriors’ lead in the series has been trimmed to 3-2.
“Golden State’s Kevin Durant scored a game-high 45 points, Stephen Curry had 24 and Klay Thompson 22. The Warriors had been 6-0 this season when that trio combined for 90-plus points, but the first blemish came Wednesday.”
Clippers 2019 playoff schedule
All times Pacific
Game 1: Warriors 121, Clippers 104
Game 2: Clippers 135, Warriors 131
Game 3: Warriors 132, Clippers 105
Game 4: Warriors 113, Clippers 105
Game 5: Clippers 129, Warriors 121
Friday, at Clippers, 7 p.m. ESPN
*Sunday, April 28, at Golden State, 12:30 p.m. TBA
* if necessary.
Wednesday’s NBA playoff scores
Clippers 129, Golden State 121 (Warriors lead series, 3-2)
Houston 100, Utah 93 (Rockets win series, 4-1)
Today’s schedule
(All times Pacific)
Denver at San Antonio, 5 p.m. TNT (Nuggets lead series, 3-2)
Law & Order
With apologies to Dick Wolf, here’s what’s going on in the legal world.
