No collapse this time: Warriors rout Clippers

[April 19, 2019]  Kevin Durant exploded for 38 points, and the Golden State Warriors never let up after building an early lead Thursday night, crushing the host Los Angeles Clippers 132-105 in Game 3 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Now down 2-1, the Clippers also will host Game 4 in the best-of-seven set on Sunday afternoon.

After taking just 24 shots and totaling 44 points in the first two games of the series, Durant came out firing in Game 3, hitting his first six shots.

Riding their hot hand, the Warriors ran up 41 first-quarter points, building as much as a 19-point advantage in the first 12 minutes.

Durant wound up 14-for-23 and just five points shy of his playoff career high despite playing only 29 minutes.

After blowing a 31-point lead in the final 19:31 of Game 2, the Warriors created the same margin at almost the identical point of the third quarter Thursday, taking an 88-57 lead with 19:10 remaining.

Lou Williams countered immediately with a 3-pointer, giving Clippers fans a flicker of hope, before Andre Iguodala answered at the other end with a trey of his own.

The Warriors went on to lead by as many as 35 before quarter's end, then let mostly backups finish up after having locked up the ninth win in their past 10 road games against the Clippers.

The result gave Golden State at least one road victory in 20 consecutive playoff series, breaking a tie with the Miami Heat for the longest streak in NBA history.

Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Curry, who battled foul trouble most of the night, complemented Durant with 21 points in 20 minutes for the Warriors.

Iguodala added 15 points, Klay Thompson 12 and Kevon Looney 10 for Golden State, which shot 54.8 percent overall and made 15 of 35 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Andrew Bogut, getting the start in place of injured DeMarcus Cousins, contributed eight points, five assists and a team-high 14 rebounds to the win.

Lou Williams, who led the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history with 36 points in Game 2, was limited to 16 in the rematch.

Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green added 15 points apiece off the bench for the Clippers. Ivica Zubac was the only Los Angeles starter to score in double figures with a team-high 18 to go with a game-high 15 rebounds.

The Clippers shot 37.2 percent overall and 7-for-32 from 3-point range.

--Field Level Media

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