The Golden State Warriors must now deal with one of the problems they’ve had all season after winning two games that seemed to indicate a newfound enthusiasm for the playoffs.
The Warriors’ championship pedigree was demonstrated by their victories over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday and the Phoenix Suns on Monday, two NBA finalist teams from last season. However, as they travel, their play has not been up to par. On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors travel south to face the Los Angeles Clippers.
This season, the Warriors have won seven games on the road, more than any other playoff-eligible team. Only the lowly San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, with six victories each, have fewer road victories than Golden State, which is one of only four teams in the entire NBA.
In addition to their eight-game road losing streak, the Warriors average 123.8 points per game on the road, compared to 111.7 points per game at home.
After dropping each of their previous three games against Phoenix this season, the Warriors defeated the Suns by a score of 123-112 on Monday. Klay Thompson made eight 3-pointers and scored 33 of his 38 points in the first half. 23 points were scored by Stephen Curry.
The Clippers have also been revived with a three-game winning streak to begin a five-game homestand after a five-game losing streak that coincided with Russell Westbrook’s arrival.
Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting for the Los Angeles Lakers in Saturday’s 106-95 victory over the New York Knicks. 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists were provided by Paul George.
The Clippers held an opponent under 100 points for the first time since Jan. 22 against the Dallas Mavericks, indicating that they have regained their defensive identity. After allowing 131.7 points in their previous six games, Los Angeles has surrendered an average of 97.5 points in their last two contests.
The Warriors, who are second in the NBA with 118.2 points per game, present a significant challenge for the Clippers, despite the fact that their previous two games have not exactly been against high-scoring teams in the Knicks or Toronto Raptors.
Since signing with the Clippers, Westbrook has played eight games and averaged 13.3 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.0 turnovers. However, in his last two games, he has played 23 minutes per game and averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 turnovers.
It is anticipated that each team will not have a productive guard. Andrew Wiggins, who plays for the Warriors, has been out since February 14 for personal reasons, and Norman Powell, who plays for the Clippers, hasn’t played since the Clippers’ 115-91 road loss to Golden State on March 2 because of a shoulder injury.
