LOS ANGELES • The sight of the Los Angeles Clippers still generates animosity and frequently brings out the best in the Golden State Warriors.
"There's definitely some added adrenaline when we play this team," Warriors forward Harrison Barnes said. "This is not a team you want to lose to."
Guard Klay Thompson scored 32 points and forward Draymond Green recorded his National Basketball Association league-leading 11th triple-double, allowing the Warriors to bounce back from their worst showing of the season with a 115-112 victory over the Clippers on Saturday at the Staples Centre.
Guard Stephen Curry had 23 points and nine assists as the Warriors (49-5) returned to their winning ways following a 137-105 thrashing by the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Green finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Golden State defeated the Clippers for their fifth straight time. Barnes also had 18 points.
"It was a big test for us," Curry said.
"We've been a resilient team all year. Obviously, our record, we haven't lost two in a row all year because of our mentality. We can have a let-down night like we did last night, but come back and re-focus and find a way to get a win against a great team that's been playing well over the last 20 or so games."
Guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 25 points to lead the Clippers (36-19). He also notched his 47th career regular-season four-point play in the second quarter.
Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a thigh bruise, had 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while centre DeAndre Jordan contributed 16 points and 21 rebounds. J.J. Redick also scored 16 points.
"We have history," said Crawford, referring to the two teams' bitter rivalry.
"It is a love-hate thing. Both teams have been on the rise the last few years. They won a championship last year, and you always want to play well against the champs."
The Clippers made it close in the final 35 seconds, getting three straight three-point buckets. After guard C.J. Wilcox hit one, guard Pablo Prigioni hit two in a row to cut the Warriors' lead to three with 5.1 seconds left in the contest.
However, Wilcox's three-point attempt from 25 feet just before the final horn was well short.
"Up until the last minute, we played well," said Thompson, who registered a 11-of-22 shooting performance and four of nine from three-point range.
"I am just proud of the way that we were solid with the ball. When we don't turn it over, we are tough to beat."
REUTERS
