OAKLAND, Calif. — The world has been focused on the Clippers — and rightfully so — in the wake of the racist scandal and resulting ban of owner Donald Sterling.
But the Warriors have been sort of the collateral damage victims of the uproar. While not under the horrific scrutiny the Clippers have endured, the Warriors have walked through it side by side as the “other” team in the Western conference first round playoff series.
The focus shifted back to basketball Thursday and all were grateful. But be assured, nothing was easy. For 48 minutes, the two teams waged an often brutal battle of desperation and attrition. Facing elimination, the Warriors outlasted all sorts of adversity, including injuries and fouls — and of course the Clippers — to force a decisive Game 7 with a 100-99 physical victory at Oracle Arena.
“We are going to Game 7 in spite of all the sideline music, and I like my chances because I got a group of guys that want to do whatever it takes,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.
The Warriors, with their front line depleted by injuries — and it continued Thursday when they lost Jermaine O’Neal (knee) in the first half — looked everywhere and anywhere for help.
They found it in normal places, like All-Star Stephen Curry, who led all scorers with 24 points while Andre Iguodala added 15 and Draymond Green scored 14. They also got something in unlikely spots, like the off-the-bench effort of Marreese Speights, who scored 12 when thrust into above-and-beyond duty with the injuries and foul trouble. David Lee played 26 minutes before fouling out.
“Take care of business the way we’re supposed to play, be aggressive and we’ll have a Game 7,” Curry said he told teammates beforehand.
“That’s who we are. We’ve proven when we play our brand of basketball that we’re awfully tough to beat,” Jackson said after the 48-minute tractor pull.
For the Clippers, who had additional adversity with Chris Paul (nine points, eight assists) fighting a nagging hamstring and a hand injury, Jamal Crawford led five double figure scorers with 19 points. Matt Barnes added an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 19 rebounds. Blake Griffin, who shot 1-of-12 in an arctic third quarter, scored 17 points.
“It wasn’t a very well-‑played game by either team going by the shooting percentages [both teams under 40], but I thought both teams played extremely hard,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who was told of a Post report that Sterling is battling cancer.
“Didn’t know it until just now,” Rivers said. “I don’t have a reaction to that. I hope it’s not true.”
Down by seven with 2:31 left after Iguodala scored a four-point play, the Clippers twice closed to within two — and even got to within one on a 3-pointer by Barnes with 1.1 seconds left. But Curry went to the line, missed the first and then purposely fired the second off the rim at :00.4, and the Warriors celebrated.
The Clippers will be home Saturday for the winner-take-all game. The loss stung, but at least the focus was strictly on basketball and not the Sterling racist fiasco.
“We’re glad we somewhat have that behind us and now we can just focus on our locker room and trying to win basketball games,” Paul said. “At the end of the day, to tell you the truth, it’s basketball. And this is sort of our comfort zone, our happy place.”
Jackson beforehand tried to place the weight of the playoffs on the Clippers’ shoulders.
“I’m crazy enough to believe the pressure is on the Clippers. I’ve been in this situation before and it’s tough to finish a team off,” Jackson said.
Rebuttal, Mr. Rivers?
“I’m good with that,” he said. “Whatever. I think the pressure is on us every night, so I’m fine with that. Pressure is good. Yeah, it’s good.”
The Warriors used spit, glue, bailing wire and Speights to stay in the game after the Clippers jumped out early. The Clippers could be forgiven for overlooking Speights, what with Curry and Klay Thompson on the Warriors side.
“Stephen Curry,” said Rivers, “he’s really good. Sometimes I think we slow him down. Sometimes I think he becomes human and he misses shots. He’s one of the greatest shooters I’ve ever seen.”