Clippers most to blame for disastrous NBA Play-In Tournament collapse vs. Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers were in a thriller against the Golden State Warriors in a win-or-go-home game, but they were not able to prevail, losing 126-121. It was a back and forth contest, and the Clippers had the lead the entire fourth quarter, until the two last minutes where Al Horford, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green turned back the time and did what they’ve done best their entire career.

For the Clippers, they were not able to execute down the stretch, and it was a tough way to go out after how they played for the entire game.

There are a few things to blame for the Clippers’ loss, and here they are.

Whoever was guarding Al Horford in the fourth quarter

If we’re being honest, Al Horford started the comeback for the Warriors after they were down nine points with around six minutes left. Horford knocked down four three-pointers in that span, and the last one gave them the lead down the stretch. Brook Lopez didn’t contest fast enough on two of the three-pointers, Kawhi Leonard was too late to get to one, and Darius Garland was late to one as well.

When Stephen Curry is on the floor, all attention goes to him, but that leaves players like Horford unattended. Speaking of Curry…

Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., you tried your best

Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. spent most of the game taking turns guarding Curry. They did well in the first half, and at one point, it looked like he was struggling to get much going. It wasn’t until the second half that Curry woke up, and it didn’t matter who was in front of him.

It’s hard to say that Dunn and Jones are to blame for Curry getting hot, but the Clippers were throwing double teams at him, and he was still knocking down shots.

Kawhi Leonard in the final three minutes

Kawhi Leonard looked like it was going to be one of those games where he just wasn’t going to miss much, and then he real quiet in the second half. Toward the end of the fourth quarter was when he was supposed to come back alive, but Draymond Green put on a defensive masterpiece against him that forced him to turn the ball over several times and miss a few shots.

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