Two high-flying teams clash on Sunday night when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The Clippers rebounded from an overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns with a late rally to defeat the Denver Nuggets 109-104 on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Warriors capped their season-opening trip with a 127-86 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Last season, the Clippers took three of four from the Warriors, but much has changed since then. Los Angeles lost Paul George to free agency and Kawhi Leonard to a knee issue. However, the Clippers have split their first two games, thanks largely to James Harden, who scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in an overtime loss to the Suns, followed by a 23-point, 16-assist performance in the win over the Nuggets. Norman Powell also shone with a 37-point performance, including seven 3-pointers against Denver.
The Clippers have been competitive despite struggling from beyond the arc, hitting just 20 of 62 3-pointers while their opponents have a 27-point advantage from deep. In contrast, the Warriors have been on fire from 3-point range, making 40 of 98 shots and outscoring their opponents by 69 points from beyond the arc. Buddy Hield, brought in to fill the void left by Klay Thompson, has been outstanding, setting franchise records with 12 3-pointers and 49 points in the first two games.
Golden State’s 36- and 41-point victories made them the first team in NBA history to open a season with two wins by at least 35 points. They’ve achieved this with strong contributions from multiple players, with 13 double-figure scoring efforts over the two games. The stage is set for an exciting showdown between these two teams.
