The Golden State Warriors (48-5) are in need of a major bounce-back performance after a 137-105 road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, and it'll have to come at the expense of a Los Angeles Clippers squad (36-18) that's won eight of its last ten.
Who will come out on top in the next chapter of this epic Northern California/Southern California rivalry? Here's our preview and prediction for Warriors vs. Clippers.
Game Info:
When: 5:30 PM PST
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
TV: ABC
Stream: WatchESPN
Spread: Warriors by 3.5
O/U: 224
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
What we learned from the Warriors' blowout loss to the Blazers
Curry: Warriors "deserved to lose" in Portland
Warriors reminded they have flaws in loss to Blazers
What They're Saying About The Los Angeles Clippers:
Jeff Green happy to reunite with Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers the GM or Doc Rivers the coach?
5 takeaway from the Clippers' win over the Spurs
Key To The Game:
Can the Warriors avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time all season? Golden State's been great against the cream of the crop all year, so we'd be led to believe that their defensive rotations will be crisper and their focus will be sharper against a Clippers team sitting right on the fringe of the NBA's elite tier.
For the first time all season, stat geek site extraordinaire FiveThirtyEight has placed the Warriors as underdogs -- giving the Clippers a 52% chance to win. For that to come true, though, Chris Paul is going to have to continue his current run of brilliance. He's the nerve center of Los Angeles' offensive and defensive efficiency, and as he goes, so will the Clippers.
If he gets off to a fast start and gets his teammates set up with open shots, the Warriors could be in big trouble in prime time.
Prediction: Warriors win 117-114
It's Warriors vs. Clippers. It's going to be a back and forth slugfest. However, we're taking Steph Curry as the irritated reigning MVP and a Warriors' supporting cast gritting its teeth and ready to take out its frustrations on its least favorite NBA team. It'll be fun, but bank on 60 combined points by Steph and Klay Thompson in a narrow win.
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