Warriors Game Day: Sights & Sounds From Staples Center – Golden State Takes Game 1 Over The Los Angeles Clippers (Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty)
STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA — The Golden State Warriors pulled off an upset of Game 1 from the Los Angeles Clippers here in the opening round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
PRE-GAME
The anticipation was high today, what with Klay Thompson saying yesterday that it’s fun to try and go into an opponent’s building to take one or both of the first two games.
Inside Staples Center, we bumped into Marreese Speights, Nemanja Nedovic (sporting the One Direction backpack, of course!), and Jermaine O’Neal (not pictured).
Inside the locker room, the players got ready. Thompson and Harrison Barnes answered questions from media. Klay was asked about the Bull In China Shop of course.
We made it to courtside to watch Stephen Curry shoot around. If you’ve never been, Staples Center is much different than the cozy feel of #Roaracle.
Shortly thereafter, Jordan Crawford took the court in his usual warm-up swag.
As Andre Iguodala warmed up, so too did Monte Poole ahead of his broadcast intro for CSN Bay Area. On the way back to the Chick Hearn Press Room at Staples, we passed by the “Spirit”.
Iguodala and Curry were in full endorsement form, sporting their respective kicks. Curry was wearing the same dark-yet-flourescent green new “secret” shoes he had sported at practice in Oakland.
During the pregame press conference, Mark Jackson praised his team in comparison to the ones of Golden State’s lore, while referencing Warriors greats such as Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, and Chris Mullin.
“I won’t bet against them,” Jackson said of his young 2013-14 squad, heading into Round 1, Game 1 of the NBA playoffs.
IN-GAME
The Clippers got out to a quick 12-1 lead, as David Lee began the game with three consecutive turnovers, one of them an offensive foul. However, the Warriors climbed back by re-focusing on defense.
Klay Thompson was doing a good job guarding Chris Paul and the Warriors trimmed the lead to 19-17 with 2:59 to go in the first quarter. Curry had tied the game at 17-17 with a three-pointer, but Iguodala then committed his third personal foul, which was then followed up by one of Curry’s seven turnovers for the game.
Jamal Crawford of the Clippers not surprisingly hit a three-pointer at the buzzer from near-halfcourt and all of a sudden, Los Angeles was back on top, 29-24 at the end of the first frame. Lee and Curry had 7 turnovers between them.
With 5:46 to go in the second quarter, the Warriors tied the game, 36-36, but Iguodala proceeded to pickup his 4th personal foul. He would have no choice but to take a seat for the rest of the half. Thompson led the Warriors with 6 points.
The bench did their part, scoring 23 points and helping to tie the game once again at halftime, 52-52. Harrison Barnes had 8 rebounds, but Curry, Lee and Thompson committed a combined 9 turnovers.
The game was tied once again with 5:10 remaining in the third period when Paul picked up his 4th foul. Iguodala had already gotten his 5th by now, though.
With 9:27 to go in the final frame, it was Warriors 93, Clippers 84, and things were clicking. Guys were making shots. Five Warriors were in double-figures and Blake Griffin collected his 5th foul.
The Warriors ended up winning 109-105. Thompson led the Warriors with 22 points and Lee had another double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
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