8:02 pm – BREAKING NEWS
Joel Embiid is OUT tonight for the Philadelphia 76ers. Greg Monroe, who was waived by the Nets after they acquired him in a trade from the Toronto Raptors, will start at center. For Monroe, a revenge game opportunity. For the Nets, a must win Game 3 at home with Embiid sidelined.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 19, 2019
Embiid hasn’t been his usual dominant self in this series, although he played better in Game 2, where he nailed Jarrett Allen in the dome with an errant elbow. He laughed through an apology during the postgame press conference. THE DISRESPECT!
The Nets are unhappy about it, and there’s been some snipping between these teams ever since Game 2. Now, the Sixers have to go into Brooklyn and try to back it up without their best player.
For the Nets, important role player Jared Dudley is available after missing Game 2. It’s an important Game 3 tonight with this series tied and both teams sick of one another. Should be a feisty one.
Once again banished to NBA TV tonight is Game 3 between the Nuggets and Spurs. That one’s tied up after Jamal Murray’s Game 2 heroics. Denver struggled at home and needed Murray to save them from a 2-0 deficit. Now they’re down in San Antonio, one of the tougher places for visitors to win. That should be a good one as well, but I ain’t got no NBA TV, so Twitter dispatches will have to suffice.
In the late game, it’s another intriguing Game 3 between the Warriors and Clippers, fresh off their now legendary Game 2 which saw DeMarcus Cousins lost for the playoffs and Los Angeles pull off the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history. The Clippers home crowd will definitely be fired up, but this is the kind of game the Warriors usually ace to silence the critics.
Needless to say, it’s a scintillating trio of basketball games…
8:08 – We’re welcomed to Brooklyn by none other than tonight’s narrators, Spero Dedes and Greg Anthony. Ros Gold-Onwude is patrolling the sidelines.
I can’t wait until both NYC teams are in the playoffs at the same time. That’ll be everything. Can’t even imagine them playing each other.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) April 19, 2019
8:11 – The Nets win the opening tip, and we’re underway in Brooklyn. D’Angelo Russell immediately drives to the hoop and misses a layup, but Joe Harris is there to clean it up and put it in the hoop for a 2-0 Brooklyn lead.
Jimmy Butler responds with a jumper on the Sixers first possession and we begin the evening tied at two.
8:14 – Jarrett Allen corrals a miss from D’Angelo Russell and puts it in the hoop, and we’ve got our first timeout with the score Brooklyn 9, Philadelphia 4 with 10:01 left in the first quarter. Joel Embiid’s absence is already being felt with the Nets grabbing three offensive boards already without him underneath the hoop to control the boards.
THE FROCIAL@_bigjayy_ | #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/JjMlYhVtWD
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 19, 2019
Here’s the alarm if you are a sixers fan: Embiid was out tonight after two days of rest. What happens when this series goes every other day? What happens when the second round goes every other day? This is a very very bad sign
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 19, 2019
brett brown always looks like it’s day 45 of survivor
— alex (@steven_lebron) April 19, 2019
8:24 – Tobias Harris knocks down a jumper, and the Sixers have gotten into a bit of a groove here as we head into a timeout with the score Philadelphia 22, Brooklyn 19 with 5:05 left in the first quarter. The Nets are 7-13 to start the game, but the Sixers have surged to 10-14 shooting thus far.
the Sixers are messed up in a lot of ways but the way they defend passes is always great. They generate a lot of havoc.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 19, 2019
6 different Sixers have scored in the first 7 minutes. They’re 10-for-13 on 2s (4-for-5 from mid-range) & 0-for-1 from 3.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) April 19, 2019
8:32 – Ben Simmons misses a shot, but James Ennis is there for a rebound and put back as the Sixers continue to build their lead with the score Philadelphia 27, Brooklyn 19 with 2:43 left in the first quarter.
8:39 – We’re here at the end of the first quarter with the score Philadelphia 32, Brooklyn 24. D’Angelo Russell has seven points to lead the Nets, but they’re shooting just 9-24 from the floor. Ben Simmons leads the Sixers with eight, and overall, they’re shooting a much better 13-23.
At first, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Sixers, with the Nets jumping on the offensive boards, but after that initial flurry, it’s been all Philadelphia. Still, the Nets are lurking in shouting distance, and if they can just settle down, and get some stops of course, they can get right back in it.
Haven’t mentioned turnovers much in this series, but Brooklyn had 6 of ’em in the 1st quarter. Nets scored 14 points on their first 8 possessions & them just 10 on their last 18 possessions of the period.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) April 19, 2019
Outside of the early offensive rebounding problems for Monroe, good quarter from the Sixers. Ben Simmons picking right up where he left off, and Monroe/Boban held up well enough.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 19, 2019
The Sixers got a combined nine points and six rebounds in 12 first quarter minutes out of Greg Monroe and Boban Marjanovic in place of Joel Embiid. If they can keep up anything close to that production, Philly will be thrilled.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 19, 2019
8:44 – A Jimmy Butler jumper gets the second quarter scoring started and pushes the Sixers lead up to ten, at 34-24.
8:45 – Caris LeVert gets into the paint and puts in a floater, and the he’s suddenly scored six straight points to send us into a timeout with the score Philadelphia 34, Brooklyn 30 with 10:33 left in the first half.
Brett Brown looks like Tim Allen about 25 minutes into “The Santa Clause.”
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) April 19, 2019
8:53 – Caris LeVert heads to the bench for a rest having scored all 14 Nets points in the second quarter so far. They trail, 40-38.
Per Nets PR:
Most points scored in a quarter in Caris LeVert’s career:15 – fourth quarter – 10/19/18 vs. New York
14 – second quarter – tonight vs. Philadelphia
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) April 19, 2019
8:57 – An offensive foul on Boban Marjanovic sends us into a timeout with the score Philadelphia 47, Brooklyn 42 with 5:34 left until halftime. So far, the Sixers have been able to fend off the Nets.
When the Sixers started the season what feels like a decade ago, “Boban might need to play 35 minutes in this playoff game” is certainly not something I imagined thinking.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 19, 2019
9:06 – Spencer Dinwiddie gets to the hoop for a tough layup, but felt he was fouled, lets the ref know about it, and earns himself a technical foul. JJ Redick hits the free throw, and the Sixers lead, 58-49.
9:12 – We’re here at halftime with the score Philadelphia 65, Brooklyn 59.
Caris LeVert leads the Nets with 19 points, all of which came in the second quarter, as he personally kept things close. Jarrett Allen has 12 points and 6 rebounds without Joel Embiid to contend with, and D’Angelo Russell’s chipped in with 11.
Tobias Harris, after a quiet couple of games in Philadelphia, leads the Sixers with 16 points and 7 rebounds, and he’s shot a perfect 4-4 from downtown. Ben Simmons has 14 points and 5 assists on 6-7 shooting, and JJ Redick’s chimed in with 10.
The Sixers have done a good job without Embiid, getting some helpful minutes from Boban Marjanovic off the bench. However, the Nets have been able to keep it close. Every time the Sixers get their lead up to around double digits, the Nets battle back to remain within striking distance.
When he crumbled to the court back in November, I would have bet against Caris LeVert being able to even practice in April, let alone score 19 points in the first half of a playoff game
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 19, 2019
9:29 – Rodions Kurucs barrels to the hoop for a goofy layup, and we’ve got the first points of the third quarter, and they cut the Nets deficit down to 65-61.
9:32 – D’Angelo Russell gets to the foul line and huts a jumper, but Ben Simmons comes back with something resembling a skyhook to keep the Sixers in front, 69-64.
Simmons with the old man hook shot my Dad used to annihilate me with
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 19, 2019
9:34 – The Sixers finish off a fast break with Ben Simmons finding Tobias Harris with a nice pass for a layup, plus a foul! Before Harris heads to the line for the old fashioned three point play, we’ll have a timeout with the score Philadelphia 77, Brooklyn 67 with 7:58 to go in the third. Throughout the game, every time the Sixers lead has approached similar levels, the Nets have fought back. Can they do so again, or are we in for a repeat of the Sixers epic third quarter the other night?
Ben drops it off to Tobias in transition… plus the foul! #NBAPlayoffs#PhilaUnite 81#WeGoHard 67
📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/4XIDB4wtn3
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2019
JJ fired up going into huddle, and for good reason.
He’s hit 2 3s during a 10-4 run that increases 76ers lead to 10.
Redick 16 pts (3-5 3fg).
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) April 19, 2019
9:38 – DISPATCHES FROM SAN ANTONIO
Rough opening quarter from Jamal Murray coming off his 21-point fourth in Game 2. He fails to score in the first tonight on two shots and doesn’t register an assist in 11 minutes. Murray hasn’t been able to keep Derrick White out of the paint either. Nuggets trail 31-22.
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) April 19, 2019
Back in Philadelphia, Tobias Harris finishes off the three point play by hitting his free throw to get the Sixers lead up to 78-67.
9:40 – We have another timeout as things are starting to resemble that third quarter the other night. It’s Philadelphia 84, Brooklyn 69 with 6:22 left in the third quarter.
Nets have gotten crushed these last 2 games in the first five minutes after the half.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) April 19, 2019
The Sixers, without Embiid, are 9-for-18 from 3 tonight and have a 15-point 3rd Q lead. In the series opener, they shot 3-for-25 from 3 and lost.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 19, 2019
JJ Redick and Tobias Harris are a combined 9-11 from 3-point range for the #sixers, who have opened up a 15 point lead midway through the 3rd quarter.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 19, 2019
76ers head to timeout on a 17-5 run – they’re pummeling Brooklyn from the perimeter (if you can do such a thing) and taken crowd out of it.
76ers 9-18 3fg, Brooklyn 6-24.
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) April 19, 2019
I promise it’s no warmer than 8 degrees in Barclays Center right now. Cold as hell in here.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) April 19, 2019
9:52 – Technical foul on an increasingly irritated Kenny Atkinson. He’s been pacing up and down the Nets bench and has had a lot to say to the refs. JJ Redick misses the free throw, however, but the Sixers are up, 92-76.
9:55 – Just when things couldn’t get any worse for the Nets…
INJURY UPDATE: Ed Davis (sore right ankle) is out for the remainder of the game.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 19, 2019
9:59 – Double technicals on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ben Simmons. Don’t look now but the Nets are back within single digits as we approach the end of the third quarter.
10:00 – The third quarter ends after nine straight Brooklyn points to make this one interesting again with the score Sixers 97, Nets 90.
Caris LeVert is up to 24 points and 5 rebounds off the Brooklyn bench, and JJ Redick has 26 to lead the Sixers, with Tobias Harris right behind him with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
This game was on the verge of going to hell, but the Nets went on a spirited run to close out the quarter, and most importantly awaken the home crowd, which had started to get antsy.
10:04 – A Nets turnover leads to a Ben Simmons dunk on the other end for the first points of the fourth quarter, putting the Sixers ahead, 99-90.
10:09 – D’Angelo Russell knocks down a three, and he’s starting to heat up. So much so that the Sixers take a timeout with the score Philadelphia 105, Brooklyn 99 with 8:36 left in the game. The Nets will need more heat from Russell if they’re going to complete the comeback this evening.
N:OW or never ❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/QFSrLgoBPP
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 19, 2019
Philly was up 16 points with 77 seconds left in the third.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) April 19, 2019
10:14 – DISPATCHES FROM SAN ANTONIO
End of the 2Q… #Spurs turned a 10-pt deficit … flipped it into a 23-10 run to end the qtr… thanks to Derrick White (14 pts during the run)… and lead #Nuggets 61-58 at the half
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) April 19, 2019
10:15 – Boban Marjanovic has fouled out after clearing out Rondae Hollis-Jefferson while driving to the hoop. He’s been very helpful for the Sixers tonight filling in for Joel Embiid, and they haven’t been so great without him. We’ll see how this goes as we travel under seven minutes remaining in the game. Boban finishes with 14 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.
Big 6th foul on Boban. Forces Sixers to either play small (what they’re doing now), or go back to Monroe.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) April 19, 2019
10:21 – Ben Simmons goes in for a layup, plus he’s fouled! It sends us into a timeout with the score Philadelphia 116, Brooklyn 105 with 5:17 left in the game. The Nets are fighting valiantly, but their might not be enough gas left in their tank to pull this one out.
Ben Simmons has stepped up monster the last two games. really cool to see a young player just overcome the limitations with aggression and savvy.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 19, 2019
10:24 – We’re back and Simmons hits the free throw to put the Sixers ahead, 117-105 and give himself a new playoff career high of 25 points.
10:27 – In between a pair of Caris LeVert free throws, we have a timeout with the score now Philadelphia 121, Brooklyn 107 with 3:40 to go.
This is the best Embiid-less game the 76ers have played since…?
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 19, 2019
10:31 – The Nets are now intentionally fouling noted lousy free throw shooter Ben Simmons in a last ditch effort to get back into the game. So far, he’s gone 2-4 from the line since they’ve started sending him there, and he’s 9-11 on free throws overall.
The easiest way to turn sportswriters against you is to pull out a Hack-A strategy on an 8 PM national TV game which was already running late.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 19, 2019
10:33 – Another timeout as this one’s all but over with the score Philadelphia 127, Brooklyn 110 with 2:25 on the clock.
Man, what a swing. Embiid goes out, the Sixers start bombing from 3. The Nets, who have been great defending the 3 go to pieces, and the Nets shoot below 30% from 3 at home.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 19, 2019
10:36 – Another timeout with the score now Philadelphia 127, Brooklyn 111 with 1:53 to go. Come on guys, let’s wrap this up.
Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick in Game 1: 18 points, 8-23 FG, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 turnovers
Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick so far in Game 3: 86 points, 29-48 FG, 19 rebounds, 14 assists, 7 turnovers
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 19, 2019
10:40 – The final buzzer sounds with the scoreboard reading Philadelphia 131, Brooklyn 115.
Caris LeVert had 26 points and 7 rebounds off the Brooklyn bench, and D’Angelo Russell also scored 26. Ben Simmons had a monster game for the Sixers, finishing with 31 points and 9 assists on 11-13 shooting. Tobias Harris added 29 points and 16 rebounds on 11-19 shooting, including 6-6 from downtown. Greg Monroe, starting in place of Joel Embiid, managed 9 points and 13 rebounds.
The Nets played hard, but the Sixers continue to not mess around. After Jared Dudley said that Ben Simmons was just an average player if you could keep him from getting out in transition, Simmons showed everyone that Dudley was sorely mistaken. Now the Sixers are up 2-1 and proved to themselves, and the rest of the playoff teams, that they can still perform well without the help of Joel Embiid. A very encouraging development for them.
10:45 – We’re whisked out to the Staples Center for Game 3 between the Warriors and Clippers. By now, we all know what happened the other night. The Clippers shocked the Warriors by pulling off the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history, coming back from a 31 point deficit. There’s really no telling what’s about to happen next, but I have a feeling the Warriors remind everyone who the champs are.
Brian Anderson and Kevin McHale will narrate the action, and Kristen Ledlow will report from the sidelines.
10:48 – The Warriors win the opening tip, and Game 3 is underway out in LA. I wonder what sort of wacky adventures we’ll get into tonight.
10:49 – Kevin Durant scores the first points of the game with a jumper, putting the Warriors up 2-0.
First bucket of the game goes to Kevin Durant.
📺 @NBCSAuthentic & @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/CAco82aMbu
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 19, 2019
10:51 – Kevin Durant’s called for his second foul, this one on the offensive end. He remains in the game.
10:52 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts in a three for the Clippers first few points. They trail, 4-3.
10:54 – DISPATCHES FROM SAN ANTONIO
Spurs up 88-84 headed to the fourth. We’re in for another photo finish.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) April 19, 2019
10:56 – After a shot clock violation against the Clippers, we have a timeout with the score Golden State 11, Los Angeles 6 with 6:48 left in the first quarter.
Warriors look more locked in defensively. Clips are over-passing right now — need to just take the shot if it’s there.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 19, 2019
Durant has scored or assisted on all 11 of the Warriors points
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) April 19, 2019
11:09 – We’ve got a timeout with the score Golden State 32, Los Angeles 15 with 2:18 left in the first quarter. The Warriors are finding holes in the Clippers defense with excellent passing and seem intent on putting Game 2 out of everyone’s mind.
Scottie Pippen in the building for Clips/Warriors. Gets a nice ovation from the Staples crowd after being introduced on the video board.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 19, 2019
11:20 – The first quarter comes to a close with the score Golden State 41, Los Angeles 24. JaMychal Green, of all people, leads the Clippers with eight points off the bench, but as a team, LA shot just 7-21 from the floor. Steph Curry leads the Warriors with 13, and Kevin Durant was a perfect 5-5 for 12 points. Altogether, the Warriors shot 16-23.
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry will finish the first quarter a combined 9-11 from the field and 25 points. Both also have two fouls.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) April 19, 2019
Obviously, things won’t really get cooking until the Clippers fall behind by 31.
11:24 – Montrezl Harrell goes flying in for a big dunk to start the second quarter, and the Clippers shave two points off their deficit and trail, 41-26.
11:27 – We’ve got a delay as there’s some sort of issue with the clocks in the Staples Center.
11:28 – DISPATCHES FROM SAN ANTONIO
And that is game… #Spurs beat #Nuggets 118-108, take a 2-1 series lead and Derrick White played his ass off… a career-high 36 pts… was damn good… dude is the best player in this series so far pic.twitter.com/M1yqgtUIny
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) April 19, 2019
11:29 – The game, and the clock, are back underway.
11:38 – After a Warriors turnover, we have a timeout with the score Golden State 53, Los Angeles 34 with 6:48 remaining in the first half.
Clippers got me scared to go to sleep.
— Jacoby (@djacoby) April 19, 2019
11:43 – As we see Kentucky coach John Calipari in stands, Shaun Livingston is called for a technical after having a few extra words with one of the refs. Danilo Gallinari hits the technical free throw, but the Clippers continue to trail, 58-35.
11:44 – And now Klay Thompson flies to the hoop for a one hand slam! It’ll take us into a timeout with the score Golden State 60, Los Angeles 37 with 5:37 left until halftime. The Clippers are just waiting for this Warriors lead to get up to 31, then they’ll make their move.
KLAY DUNK ALERT pic.twitter.com/myGEGma5gH
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 19, 2019
I actually do think it’s safe for the East Coast to go to bed
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) April 19, 2019
Klay Thompson’s most explosive mini stretch of the series: Two 3s, a mid-ranger and a dunk to open this second quarter. Had only hit two combined 3s first nine quarters.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 19, 2019
11:49 – JaMychal Green hits a three, and the Clippers have this one under 20 points with the score Golden State 60, Los Angeles 42 with 5:01 remaining in the first half. Obviously, sensing the early stages of another big comeback, Warriors coach Steve Kerr calls a timeout.
12:02 am – We’re here at halftime with the score Golden State 73, Los Angeles 52.
JaMychal Green leads the Clippers with 13 off the bench, and Montrezl Harrell has added ten, but nothing’s going right for LA. Meanwhile, the Warriors seem intent on proving a point, let by Kevin Durant’s 27 points on 10-15 shooting. Steph Curry has 15, and Klay Thompson’s added 10.
What the Warriors don’t realize is that they’re playing right into the Clippers hands.
Game 2 halftime: Warriors 73, Clippers 50
Game 3 halftime: Warriors 73, Clippers 52.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) April 19, 2019
Why’d everyone have to come at KD crazy over the last few days? Now we have arguably the best player in the game locked aaaallll the way in.
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) April 19, 2019
12:20 – We already have a timeout as the third quarter is barely underway with the score still Golden State 73, Los Angeles 52 with 11:23 on the clock.
12:24 – Patrick Beverly pulls up and hits a three for the first points of the second half, and the Clippers trail, 73-55.
12:25 – Patrick Beverly fouls Steph Curry, then as Curry gets set to launch a meaningless shot after the whistle, Beverly slaps him on the arm and gets hit with a technical foul. Curry of course hits the free throw, and the Warriors lead is 74-55.
You can’t do that, Beverley pic.twitter.com/qscrBVpdaD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 19, 2019
Pat discussed at practice yesterday that he hasn’t played a full game in this series yet. He was ejected in Game 1 and fouled out in Game 2. He has four fouls and one tech w/ 10 min remaining in the third qtr.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 19, 2019
Beverley gets a T for taking an extra swipe at Steph after a foul. The Warriors broke the Clippers spirit in this one. They’ve been controlling the pace the whole way.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 19, 2019
12:28 – With 8:46 to go in the third quarter, Steph Curry picks up his fourth foul. When he picked up his fourth in Game 2, the Clippers comeback began. As he did then, he leaves the game with the Warriors ahead, 81-57.
12:29 – Double technicals on JaMychal Green and Kevin Durant, who were engaged in a lively conversation as they strolled up the court.
JaMychal Green and Kevin Durant have been called for double techs for playfully trash-talking each other.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 19, 2019
12:31 – Draymond Green finds Andre Iguodala for a big two hand slam, and the Warriors are on a 14-0 run to bring us into a timeout and make the score Golden State 88, Los Angeles 57 with 7:10 remaining in the game. By my math, that’s a 31 point lead for the Warriors, which means it’s comeback time!
Andre putting the ‼️ on a 14-0 run
📺 @NBCSAuthentic & @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/ySp5xL0dYD
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 19, 2019
12:41 – JaMychal Green comes flying in for a put back slam, and it’ll take us into a timeout with the score Golden State 100, Los Angeles 72 with 3:48 to go in the third quarter.
Go to bed everybody. That’s all she wrote.
— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) April 19, 2019
12:50 – The third quarter draws to a close with the score Golden State 109, Los Angeles 76.
Lou Williams got 16 points and 6 assists to lead the Clippers, but Kevin Durant’s up to 38 points and 7 assists for the Warriors. It looks as though there will be no comeback tonight, but I am staying up anyway, just in case.
12:54 – Shaun Livingston hits a jumper to continue piling on the Clippers as Golden State’s lead goes up to 111-76.
1:03 – We have a timeout with the score Golden State 117, Los Angeles 86 with 7:19 remaining after Jerome Robinson hits a free throw after Quinn Cook was called for a technical foul. I’d tell you more, but I am straight up not really paying attention to this game anymore.
I feel like the Warriors blowing a 31 point lead and then going up 30+ the very next game is the most Warriors thing ever.
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) April 19, 2019
1:13 – Al Michaels sighting in the stands.
1:17 – Baron Davis sighting in the stands.
1:19 – That’ll do it from the Staples Center with a final score of Golden State 132, Los Angeles 105. It’s the 20th straight series in which the Warriors have notched a road win, a new NBA record. See? Staying up late was worth it once again. We got to witness history.
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 18 points and 15 rebounds in 17 minutes. Despite starting, most of that damage was done in garbage time, so don’t be fooled by these lofty numbers.
Kevin Durant was sublime this evening, finishing with 38 points and 7 assists. Steph Curry added 21 points and 5 rebounds, and Draymond Green contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists.
From the jump, the Warriors were in control, only this time, they never let up. They’re still the team to beat, and they can still ruin anyone’s night when they fully feel like it.
Another exciting evening of NBA playoff action is in the books, and with the opportunities for comebacks now over, it’s time to go to bed.