By the Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Kawhi Leonard sure knows how to spoil Golden State’s fun.
Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots next to Golden State Warriors’ Glenn Robinson III (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Leonard did it again in the Warriors’ first game at Chase Center just like in their farewell at Oracle Arena four months ago, scoring 21 points in three quarters to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 141-122 victory Thursday on opening night at Golden State’s snazzy new arena.
Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard looks at the scoreboard during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game Golden State Warriors on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Leonard shot 9 for 17 and also dished out nine assists in his second game with L.A. after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first title last season in a six-game finals against the Warriors.
“I thought he started doing it in the second round last year,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “In the first round he was just dominating and then I thought as each round went on he started playmaking more and more, but what he’s doing now is on another level.”
Stephen Curry scored 23 points but committed eight turnovers and D’Angelo Russell added 20 points in his Golden State debut, but the Warriors got beat up the way they used to do it against the entire NBA — even giving up a 46-point third quarter.
What a dud for the Dubs as they formally opened new Chase Center in San Francisco after 47 years at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry walks on the court during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Patrick Patterson scored 20 points and Ivica Zubac had 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots for Los Angeles.
In a rematch of the hard-fought first-round playoff series last season won by the Warriors in six games on their way to a fifth straight finals, the Clippers jumped to a 14-0 lead making 5 of their first 6 shots. Golden State started 0 for 6 and missed four 3s. Russell’s jumper at 8:23 gave Golden State its first points and he scored the Warriors’ initial seven before Curry hit a 3 at 6:42.
The Warriors got a scare when they briefly lost Draymond Green at the 9:03 mark of the opening quarter after he appeared to injure his right elbow on a screen. Green returned to the court at the start of the second and wound up with 11 points.
Curry, who at 31 is the oldest Warriors player, was 2 of 11 on 3s as new-look Golden State went 15 for 42 from deep.
Kevin Durant is long gone and so are several other key veterans part of the recent Warriors championship runs.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr is embracing the move and new arena — he’s still figuring his way around the building — but noted “I’ll miss everything about Oracle. It’s a great place to play.”
Some fans left after the third quarter with the home team trailing 111-87.
There will be plenty more lumps along the way for this young group, with Kerr noting, “This is not a one off.”
“This is more the reality of the NBA. The last five years we’ve been living in a world that isn’t supposed to exist,” Kerr said.
Leonard and Patrick Beverley were booed during pregame introductions for the Clippers, who beat the Lakers 112-102 in their opener Tuesday with Leonard scoring 30 points on 10-for-19 shooting.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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