Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ historic Game 2 victory
After trailing by as many as 31 points, the LA Clippers came alive in the second half to upset the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their playoff matchup.
There is something incredibly special about this specific group of players. It’s not one made up guys with household names, or one that features a lot of, if any, star power. It’s not one that most people, even the sane ones, would bet on.
There is nothing glitzy or glamorous about a roster made up of players who were all, at one point or another in their careers, considered cast-offs.
Lou Williams came close to retiring not so many years ago. Patrick Beverley was drafted in 2009, but didn’t find his way into the league until 2012 after playing three years of basketball in Ukraine, Greece, and Russia. Montrezl Harrell was nearly waived by the Clippers after being thrown into the Chris Paul trade package as something of an afterthought.
That isn’t even the half of it, either.
All around the Clippers’ locker room, there are players that were never supposed to make it, and did, and have now found themselves on the same team with one common goal.
As the season has gone on, the Clippers have only gotten better, and stronger, and more resilient. They never stop playing. They never lose focus. Not until the final buzzer sounds.
LA proved that to be true once again on Monday night, when the Clippers mounted the biggest comeback victory in NBA Playoffs history, upsetting the heavily-favored Golden State Warriors after trailing by as many as 31 points in the second half.
With 7:31 left in the third quarter, Kevin Durant slammed one home through contact and hit the free throw that followed. With the bucket, the Warriors went up by 31.
Over the remaining 19 minutes, LA outscored Golden State 72-37. The run was capped off by a Landry Shamet three, which fell through the bottom of the net with 16 seconds left on the clock and gave the Clippers their first lead since going up 12-11 just under four minutes into the game.
Now, both teams will head to Los Angeles for Game 3, with the series tied 1-1. And while the Warriors will certainly be looking for revenge, the Clippers should be riding high off the confidence they’ve had in themselves all season long.
For in-depth takeaways from Game 2, continue on to the following slides.