Warriors vs. Clippers, Round 3: Game Preview

The Warriors will take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night in a nationally televised contest between two teams that clearly do not like each other. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors have lost four of their last five home games, which is very uncharacteristic of a team that has played so well in front of the raucous crowd at Oracle Arena.

Perhaps a date with their SoCal rivals at home will spark some life into this team.

The Warriors will take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night in a nationally televised contest between two teams that clearly do not like each other. It is almost a given that there will be no shortage of cussing, arguing, physical play, and perhaps even the occasional fight between these two teams.

But the Warriors can’t concern themselves with anything besides playing the game and winning right now. This team is scuffling, having lost five of its last seven games and going 1-3 thus far on the homestand. Their last game was an 88-85 dud to the Wizards, where their defense was excellent but their offense failed to show up. The Warriors have lost three games to inferior opponents in this recent stretch of games, falling to the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Nuggets — all at home.

Things won’t get easier against a Clippers squad that has won nine of 12 and are leading the Pacific Division. What’s more impressive is that Chris Paul has been out for a majority of the month of January, and they have’t missed a beat. Darren Collison has stepped right into the starting point guard role, Blake Griffin has developed into an even more dangerous offensive threat, and the Clippers are loaded with depth that the Warriors can only dream of having. With the likes of Jamal Crawford and Jared Dudley coming off the bench, the Warriors’ reserves will need to step their game up and give their starters a chance to take a break.

Tale of the Tape

Warriors

• Points per game: 103.6 (11th)
• Field goal percentage: 46.1% (7th)
• 3-point percentage: 38.5% (2nd)
• Opponents’ field goal percentage: 43.3% (T-2nd)
• Rebounds per game: 46.0 (2nd)
• Turnovers: 16.3 (29th)
• Bench points per game: 23.0 (30th)

Clippers

• Points per game: 106.3 (2nd)
• Field goal percentage: 46.9% (7th)
• 3-point percentage: 34.8% (21st)
• Opponents’ field goal percentage: 44.4% (T-5th)
• Rebounds per game: 42.9 (T-17h)
• Turnovers: 13.4 (7th)
• Bench points per game: 31.6 (17th)

History Says…

History favors the Warriors in this matchup, as they have won four straight over the Clippers at home and if you go back further, they’ve won 14 of 16 when the Clippers visit Oracle Arena.

This season, the teams have split two games, with each winning on its home court. The Warriors won 105-103 on Christmas evening.

Injury Report

GSW: Festus Ezeli (recovery from right knee surgery), Nemanja Nedovic (left hamstring strain) and Jermaine O’Neal (recovery from right wrist surgery) are out. Ognjen Kuzmic is on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League.

LAC: Chris Paul (grade 3 AC joint separation right shoulder) is out.

Probable Lineups

GOLDEN STATE (27-19) 

• F Andre Iguodala (9.9 PPG)
• F David Lee (19.0 PPG)
• C Andrew Bogut (7.9 PPG)
• G Klay Thompson (18.9 PPG)
• G Stephen Curry (24.1 PPG)

LOS ANGELES (32-15)

• F Matt Barnes (7.2 PPG)
• F Blake Griffin (22.9 PPG)
• DeAndre Jordan (9.6 PPG)
• J.J. Redick (16.5 PPG)
• Darren Collison (10.0 PPG)

Game Info

Time: 7:30 PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: TNT