Coming off back-to-back championships, the Warriors were on top of the NBA world, looking to 3-peat. A juggernaut comprising Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, Coach Kerr’s crew was the ultimate cheat code for winning games.
Completing another successful regular season campaign, the Warriors (1st seed) faced the Clippers (8th seed) in the first round of the playoffs. Most certainly, the defending champions were favorites, with many predicting a 4-0 sweep.
However, hoops fans were about to witness one of the greatest underdog stories. A resilient Clippers roster comprising Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrel, Landry Shamet, and Ivica Zubac wasn’t going down without a fight.
The 2019 Warriors-Clippers series was an edge-of-your-seat thriller
Hosting the Clips at the Oracle Arena, the Dubs took care of matters in Game One with Stephen Curry leading the charge. The two-time MVP posted a double-double of 38 points and 15 rebounds while shooting a highly impressive 66.7% from the 3-point line.
Looking to continue from where they left off, the Warriors were ready to assert complete dominance over the Doc Rivers-led team. However, a tectonic shift was about to shake the basketball universe, as the Clippers rallied back from a 31-point deficit in the third quarter, defeating Golden State on their home turf.
The 6th Man power was on full display, as Williams and Harrell combined for 61 points, with Shamet hitting the dagger to seal the victory. The Clippers beat the Warriors at their trademark strength, shooting better from the 3-point line.
Adding to Dub Nation’s fears was the series shifting to LA for the next two games. Nevertheless, Kevin Durant decided to take matters into his own hands, defeating the Clips in both their home games and heading back to the Oracle with a 3-1 lead.
As the Warriors looked to be in cruise control, the Clippers would spring another surprise, snatching the series-clinching win from the Bay Area organization. Nonetheless, KD decided to end matters promptly, with a 50-point performance in Game Six, as GSW dodged a bullet.
Coach Steve Kerr gave his flowers to the Clippers
Though the Warriors were able to find their way against the Clips, one couldn’t help but acknowledge the fighting spirit of the latter. Addressing the media after the Game Six win, Coach Kerr couldn’t help but marvel at his opposition.
“Congrats to the Clippers on an amazing season. I love their team. Just love how they compete, how they fight, play for each other. That’s a beautiful basketball team and they made us work for everything. They got a bright future.”
Fortunately, the Warriors were able to escape what could have been a huge upset, which was bound to cause the same amount of damage, if not more, than the 2016 Finals against the Cavaliers.
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