NBCSBA: Old demons reincarnate as Warriors fade down stretch vs. Clippers

[Robin Miller]

https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/demons-reincarnate-down-stretch-clippers/1703554/


Old demons reincarnate as Warriors fade down stretch vs. Clippers

By Monte Poole

• Published February 14, 2024


SAN FRANCISCO – Returning from road trip that ended with three
consecutive lopsided victories, setting them on a path to save this
turbulent 2023-24 NBA season, the Warriors on Wednesday night devolved
into regression.

The Warriors built a 15-point lead on the Los Angeles Clippers and
slowly gave it back, shot by shot, until they were, once again, in
“clutch game” territory.

And once there, the fourth-quarter demons that have surfaced so often
this season reappeared.

The Warriors responded to a tightening game with questionable shot
selection on offense and the kind of horrid defensive lapses they surely
thought they were beyond. It was enough to invite a 130-125 loss that
sucked the energy out of Chase Center, snapped a five-game win streak
and extinguished the fire that raged only minutes earlier.

“We lost control of the game defensively,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And I
don’t think we adjusted well enough either as a coaching staff.”

Well, no, they did not. Giving up 44 points, on 61.9-percent shooting,
in the fourth quarter was surprising because Golden State has played
excellent defense while winning seven of its last eight games.

Los Angeles’ bench scored 26 points in the fourth to put the Warriors to
sleep. Norman Powell took four 3-pointers in the fourth, mostly open,
and made each one. Russell Westbrook scored 10 points in the quarter on
4-of-6 shooting.

“Very frustrating for sure,” Brandin Podziemski said. “What happened in
that last quarter was the complete opposite of what we’ve been playing
the last seven games.”

The Warriors also gave the Clippers a couple free throws when Klay
Thompson made the mistake of fouling Westbrook with 39 seconds remaining
and the Warriors trailing by three. Westbrook buried both shots to give
the Clippers a 128-123 lead.

“We didn’t want to foul,” Kerr said, clearly displeased. “We were down
three, with 38 seconds left. It’s an obvious defend. Just play it out
and get a rebound and it’s a one-possession game.”

This was the sixth time this season that Golden State built a lead of at
least 15 points and still wound up with a loss – including a 22-point
blown lead to the Clippers on Dec. 2 in Los Angeles.

Such losses are piling up, particularly in the Western Conference, and
specifically in the Pacific Division. Golden State (26-26), 10th in the
West and last in the division, is playing its way out of multiple
tiebreakers.

“We played a really solid game, 34 assists to nine turnovers, but the
game got away from us defensively in the fourth,” Kerr said. “I’d like
to watch the tape and see how we can adjust better.”

Lost in the outcome were historic performances by Stephen Curry and
Podziemski.

Curry scored 41 points, 23 in the second half, shooting 15-of-31 from
the field, including 9 of 19 from deep. He became the first player in
NBA history make at least seven triples in four consecutive games.

Podziemski was spectacular, scoring a season-high 25 points on 9-of-12
shooting, including 5 of 5 from distance. He added eight assists and
seven rebounds. His impact on the game included taking charges, zipping
passes, diving for loose balls and generally irritating a vast
assortment of Clippers.

By the fourth quarter, Clippers center Mason Plumlee had endured enough.
When Podziemski, six inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter, had the
temerity to tussle with the big man, Plumlee responded with an overhand
right that dropped Podziemski to the floor. He was assessed with
Flagrant 1 foul.

And 19 seconds later, there was Podziemski, getting back on defense,
setting himself and drawing a charging foul on the rampaging Plumlee.

The rookie from Santa Clara University became the first player in NBA
history to come off the bench and deliver a minimum of 20 points, five
rebounds, five assists and five 3-pointers without a miss.

Not that it mattered in the end.

“It feels a little bit different,” Podziemski, when asked about the
previous blown leads. “Obviously, the result is the same. A loss. But I
feel like after the game we talked as a team and cleared things up. I
think we’ll be ready for tomorrow.”