The Golden State Warriors will host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight (10:30 pm ET, ESPN) in the first of four matchups between the two rivals this year. Both teams enter the game with 4-0 records and as the top two teams in the Western Conference. So, who will suffer their first loss of the season? Check out our preview & prediction below:
Projected Starting Lineups:
PG Stephen Curry - 37.0 ppg, 6.3 apg, 5.0 rpg
SG Klay Thompson - 13.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg
SF Harrison Barnes - 9.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg
PF Draymond Green - 12.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.3 apg
C Festus Ezeli - 8.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg
PG Chris Paul - 15.3 ppg, 8.0 apg
SG J.J. Redick - 15.0 ppg, 1.5 apg
SF Lance Stephenson - 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
PF Blake Griffin - 29.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg
C DeAndre Jordan - 9.0 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 4.5 bpg
Key To The Game:
Who can own the transition game? Both the Warriors and Clippers run up-tempo systems and are at their best on the break, using their prowess in that area to control the flow of the game. When Golden State gets on a roll, especially at home, it feels like an avalanche the opposing team doesn't stand a chance against. The only way the Clippers win this game is if they can stop that from happening, which they plan to do by playing great transition defense and getting out on the break themselves.
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
Golden State Warriors To Use Clippers' Words as Motivation
Can the Warriors prove Klay Thompson right and win 70 games?
What They're Saying About The Los Angeles Clippers:
The Clippers need to embrace the role of villain
Stephen A.: Clippers will not get blown out by the Warriors
Prediction: Warriors win 122-109
This will be an extremely close, chippy contest that will provide plenty of entertainment from start to finish. These teams are much closer in talent than you would think, but Golden State is playing at an unbelievably high level and are at home in this one. They'll start to pull away late in the fourth quarter, but the game will be much closer than the final score indicates.
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