Lou Williams, Clippers force Game 6 against champ Warriors
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Lou Williams again came off the bench and knocked down big shot after big shot. Patrick Beverley crashed the boards at every chance. Danilo Gallinari drove the lane with authority.
The Los Angeles Clippers took the Warriors right out of their comfort zone by beating the two-time defending champions at their own game with energy on both ends, extending their season long after many had counted them out.
Williams hit a fadeaway jumper with 1:29 left and finished with 33 points and 10 assists, Golden State uncharacteristically clanked shots much of the second half and couldn't make key stops, and the upstart Clippers sent their first-round series back home with a 129-121 Game 5 win on Wednesday night.
No clinch celebration just yet for the two-time defending champions, who lead 3-2 but needed far more than Kevin Durant's playoff career-high 45 points.
''I don't want to get ahead of myself. They're up 3-2 still, but I just loved how we played, I really did,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. ''All we talked about is being us. I told our guys, they've been them in the series. We have yet to put a game where we are us through the game.''
The Clippers stymied Golden State's comeback effort on the very court at Oracle Arena where Los Angeles rallied from 31 points down in Game 2 for the largest comeback in NBA postseason history.
Game 6 is Friday back in Los Angeles.
Beverley took a big charge against Klay Thompson with 1:40 left and wound up with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his best outing of the series.
''I thought Patrick Beverley came in, just kicked our butts right away,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''He came out with more energy than we had and that set a tone.''
Houston and James Harden are on to the second round and waiting for another chance at the champs. The Clippers said not just yet, they're not done.
The Rockets, who squandered a 3-2 series lead to the Warriors in last year's Western Conference finals, eliminated the Jazz with a 100-93 Game 5 victory at home a few hours earlier Wednesday. Sure, the Warriors have thought about a potential second-round matchup.
''Our focus was to come in and extend the series and get another game on our home floor,'' Williams said. ''It's their mistake for looking ahead. That's on them.''
Gallinari added 26 points and seven rebounds, and Montrezl Harrell had 24 points as the eighth-seeded Clippers are keeping things interesting until the end.
''We've got to bring it if we're going to beat them,'' Kerr said.
Durant raised his arm late and called on the Oracle Arena crowd for a major assist - the Warriors needed every little bit of help. Thompson's 3 with 4:02 left made it 116-114 and Durant tied it on a driving dunk the next time down.
Stephen Curry scored 24 points and Thompson 22 but Golden State didn't have it on defense.
''If we come out and just think we're going to roll over this team because they're an 8 seed, it doesn't work that way in the NBA playoffs,'' Warriors center Andrew Bogut said.
Durant shot 14 for 26 in his third performance of at least 30 points in the series and ninth 40-point postseason effort.
Curry, already the NBA's career playoff leader for made 3-pointers, reached 400 postseason 3s.
But the Warriors - all of them, their best shooters - missed badly on good looks and couldn't defend the way they typically do to generate that sensational transition game.
''That's the worst-case scenario for any team. You're missing shots and can't get stops, you feel like you're in a bottomless pit,'' Durant said. ''Hopefully we knock down shots and get stops next game.''
Golden State trailed 71-63 at halftime despite making 10 of 16 3s but allowed Los Angeles to shoot 56%, and the Clippers finished at 54.1%.
Gallinari hit a 3 out of the break then a free throw following Draymond Green's technical and Los Angeles made it 81-66 on JaMychal Green's 3 at the 9:09 mark.
''It's been a year where things haven't gone exactly smoothly all the time,'' Kerr said. ''I'm not surprised by anything, but I expected to come out and play better and win the game. But it's the NBA playoffs. This is a seven-game series and you've got to play. You've got to defend with some urgency.''
NO SUBSTITUTION NECESSARY
Alfonzo McKinnie knocked down a 3 to end the first moments after he had left the court with Kerr trying to sub in Thompson to play the final possession, but since Beverley - who'd been bleeding from a knock by Curry - stayed in the game the referees ruled McKinnie must return to the floor.
GREEN'S WRIST
Nothing was going to keep Draymond Green from playing Game 5 - even his troublesome right wrist. An MRI showed no serious issues and he practiced fully Tuesday.
The wrist has been bothering him since the beginning of Game 3 when ''I got a pretty good whack on it.''
''It's still sore,'' Green said at shootaround. ''If the MRI said it was broken by the way I was still going to play. So it really didn't matter.''
TIP-INS
Clippers: Gallinari missed his initial four 3-point tries before connecting late in the first and finished 3 of 11 from deep. ... The Clippers outrebounded the Warriors 42-39.
Warriors: Golden State scored 41 points in the first for its third 40-point quarter of the series - the first time in the shot clock era (1954-55) the Warriors have done so in one playoff series. ... Durant (3,816) passed John Havlicek (3,776) for 12th place on the NBA's career postseason scoring list. ... The Warriors are 9-3 in Game 5s dating to their title run in 2015. ...
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:33 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
11:05 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 0-3 | |
10:40 | Shooting foul on Kevin Durant | |||
10:40 | +1 | Danilo Gallinari made 1st of 2 free throws | 1-3 | |
10:40 | +1 | Danilo Gallinari made 2nd of 2 free throws | 2-3 | |
10:28 | Klay Thompson missed fade-away jump shot | |||
10:25 | Defensive rebound by JaMychal Green | |||
10:12 | +2 | Kevin Durant made running Jump Shot | 2-5 | |
10:12 | Shooting foul on Landry Shamet | |||
10:12 | +1 | Kevin Durant made free throw | 2-6 | |
9:47 | Shooting foul on Stephen Curry | |||
9:47 | +1 | Landry Shamet made 1st of 3 free throws | 3-6 | |
9:47 | +1 | Landry Shamet made 2nd of 3 free throws | 4-6 | |
9:47 | +1 | Landry Shamet made 3rd of 3 free throws | 5-6 | |
9:33 | Kevin Durant missed jump shot | |||
9:29 | LAC team rebound | |||
9:18 | Landry Shamet missed driving layup, blocked by Kevin Durant | |||
9:15 | Defensive rebound by Andrew Bogut | |||
9:12 | Stephen Curry missed jump shot | |||
9:05 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
8:49 | Andrew Bogut missed alley-oop shot | |||
8:42 | Danilo Gallinari missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:39 | LAC team rebound | |||
8:20 | Backcourt turnover on Stephen Curry | |||
8:08 | +3 | Patrick Beverley made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by JaMychal Green | 13-6 | |
7:47 | +2 | Andrew Bogut made layup, assist by Draymond Green | 13-8 | |
7:27 | JaMychal Green missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:24 | Offensive rebound by Danilo Gallinari | |||
7:23 | Personal foul on Andrew Bogut | |||
7:13 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made jump shot | 15-8 | |
6:50 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:45 | Defensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
6:39 | +2 | Kevon Looney made dunk, assist by Stephen Curry | 15-12 | |
6:24 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari made driving layup, assist by Landry Shamet | 17-12 | |
6:10 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Stephen Curry | 17-15 | |
5:49 | +3 | Landry Shamet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 20-15 | |
5:26 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
5:22 | Lost ball turnover on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, stolen by Kevin Durant | |||
5:22 | Personal foul on Danilo Gallinari | |||
5:05 | Shooting foul on Lou Williams | |||
5:05 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 1st of 2 free throws | 20-16 | |
5:05 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 20-17 | |
4:42 | Patrick Beverley missed jump shot | |||
4:41 | LAC team rebound | |||
4:41 | 24-second shot clock violation turnover | |||
4:28 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 20-20 | |
4:08 | Danilo Gallinari missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:58 | Offensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
3:58 | +2 | Patrick Beverley made dunk | 22-20 | |
3:51 | Andre Iguodala missed turnaround jump shot | |||
3:44 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
3:42 | +3 | Patrick Beverley made 3-pt. jump shot | 25-20 | |
3:28 | Stephen Curry missed running Jump Shot | |||
3:27 | Offensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
3:26 | Offensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
3:26 | Shooting foul on Danilo Gallinari | |||
3:26 | Kevon Looney missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
3:26 | +1 | Kevon Looney made 2nd of 2 free throws | 25-21 | |
3:10 | +3 | Kevin Durant made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Stephen Curry | 25-24 | |
2:52 | +2 | Lou Williams made running Jump Shot, assist by Patrick Beverley | 27-24 | |
2:39 | Offensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
2:37 | +3 | Kevin Durant made 3-pt. fade-away jump shot, assist by Kevon Looney | 27-27 | |
2:27 | JaMychal Green missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:23 | Offensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
2:16 | +2 | Lou Williams made floating jump shot, assist by Montrezl Harrell | 29-27 | |
2:04 | +3 | Kevin Durant made 3-pt. jump shot | 29-30 | |
1:51 | Lost ball turnover on Lou Williams, stolen by Andre Iguodala | |||
1:51 | Personal foul on Patrick Beverley | |||
1:51 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 1st of 2 free throws | 29-31 | |
1:51 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-32 | |
1:34 | +2 | Montrezl Harrell made hook shot, assist by Danilo Gallinari | 31-32 | |
1:14 | +3 | Andre Iguodala made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 31-35 | |
1:00 | +3 | Danilo Gallinari made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Lou Williams | 34-35 | |
0:45 | +2 | Stephen Curry made fade-away jump shot, assist by Andre Iguodala | 34-37 | |
0:46 | Shooting foul on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | |||
0:30 | Offensive rebound by Danilo Gallinari | |||
0:18 | Jerome Robinson missed floating jump shot | |||
0:13 | +3 | Danilo Gallinari made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jerome Robinson | 37-38 | |
0:00 | +3 | Alfonzo McKinnie made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Andre Iguodala | 37-41 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | +2 | Montrezl Harrell made jump shot, assist by Jerome Robinson | 39-41 | |
11:24 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Andre Iguodala | 39-43 | |
11:15 | Shooting foul on Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
11:15 | +1 | Lou Williams made 1st of 2 free throws | 40-43 | |
11:15 | +1 | Lou Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws | 41-43 | |
11:02 | Lost ball turnover on Klay Thompson, stolen by Garrett Temple | |||
10:57 | +2 | Lou Williams made layup, assist by Garrett Temple | 43-43 | |
10:33 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot | 43-45 | |
10:16 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari made jump shot, assist by Montrezl Harrell | 45-45 | |
10:09 | Personal foul on Jerome Robinson | |||
10:00 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
9:54 | Defensive rebound by Jerome Robinson | |||
9:52 | +2 | Montrezl Harrell made layup, assist by Lou Williams | 47-45 | |
9:21 | Bad pass turnover on Lou Williams, stolen by Andrew Bogut | |||
9:12 | Personal foul on Jerome Robinson | |||
9:07 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Andre Iguodala | 47-50 | |
8:37 | Shaun Livingston missed jump shot | |||
8:33 | LAC team rebound | |||
8:33 | Violation | |||
8:13 | +2 | Montrezl Harrell made hook shot | 51-50 | |
7:59 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
7:56 | Defensive rebound by Montrezl Harrell | |||
7:45 | Lou Williams missed driving layup | |||
7:35 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:31 | Defensive rebound by Danilo Gallinari | |||
7:10 | +2 | Lou Williams made jump shot | 53-50 | |
6:47 | +2 | Kevon Looney made layup, assist by Shaun Livingston | 53-52 | |
6:19 | Defensive rebound by Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
6:10 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:06 | Defensive rebound by Danilo Gallinari | |||
6:02 | Personal foul on Alfonzo McKinnie | |||
5:51 | +3 | JaMychal Green made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Lou Williams | 56-52 | |
5:31 | +2 | Kevin Durant made dunk, assist by Draymond Green | 56-54 | |
5:15 | Patrick Beverley missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:04 | +2 | Shaun Livingston made jump shot | 56-56 | |
4:43 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari made hook shot, assist by Patrick Beverley | 58-56 | |
4:29 | Defensive rebound by Landry Shamet | |||
4:12 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:07 | Defensive rebound by JaMychal Green | |||
3:59 | +2 | Lou Williams made finger-roll layup | 63-56 | |
3:47 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 63-58 | |
3:20 | JaMychal Green missed jump shot | |||
3:17 | Offensive rebound by Danilo Gallinari | |||
3:14 | Landry Shamet missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:13 | Personal foul on Stephen Curry | |||
3:05 | Danilo Gallinari missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:48 | Stephen Curry missed jump shot | |||
2:46 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
2:34 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari made floating jump shot | 65-58 | |
2:34 | Shooting foul on Klay Thompson | |||
2:32 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
2:29 | Backcourt turnover on Stephen Curry | |||
2:19 | +2 | Lou Williams made layup | 67-58 | |
2:11 | Personal foul on JaMychal Green | |||
2:07 | Bad pass turnover on Draymond Green, stolen by Danilo Gallinari | |||
2:03 | Bad pass turnover on Lou Williams, stolen by Draymond Green | |||
1:50 | Personal foul on Landry Shamet | |||
1:40 | LAC team rebound | |||
1:23 | Danilo Gallinari missed turnaround jump shot | |||
1:23 | Danilo Gallinari missed turnaround jump shot | |||
1:22 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
1:19 | Shooting foul on JaMychal Green | |||
1:19 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 1st of 2 free throws | 67-59 | |
1:19 | +1 | Kevin Durant made 2nd of 2 free throws | 67-60 | |
1:01 | +2 | Lou Williams made fade-away jump shot | 69-60 | |
0:53 | +3 | Kevin Durant made 3-pt. jump shot | 69-63 | |
0:38 | +2 | Lou Williams made finger-roll layup | 71-63 | |
0:29 | Kevin Durant missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:27 | Defensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
0:12 | Patrick Beverley missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:10 | Offensive rebound by Patrick Beverley | |||
0:07 | Landry Shamet missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:05 | Defensive rebound by Andre Iguodala | |||
0:00 | Stephen Curry missed jump shot | |||
0:00 | GS team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |