Clippers Win Game 5 In Oakland; Doc Rivers: “Lou Williams is a Closer”

What a fantastic end of the day in the NBA. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena and forced Game 6 back in LA. The final result, 129-121, for the guests who cut the deficit in the series to 3-2.

Doc Rivers’ boys once again amazed the whole world by beating the champions at their own court. And this time, there were no magic comeback or anything like that.

Just a plain, old gunfight. Hit for a hit, as some might say.

Steve Kerr was a bit upset after the game at the press conference about his team not playing good defense. Kerr was constantly talking about the poor effort in that aspect of the game, and according to the GSW’s coach, this is the main reason for the defeat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjOe4RkFrRw

“It’s just defense, we just did not defend, and you know playoffs are all about defense,” Kerr state. “We had two great efforts in down in LA, and I think we just let our guards down tonight.”

Golden State’s offense was at the typical level, but the Clippers were even better tonight. The opening quarter suggested that this isn’t going to be one of the usual games in Oakland, where GSW dominates the floor.

LAC scored 37 points, smashing their way through, and despite the deficit, because Warriors had 41, something suggested that this isn’t their maximum. They quickly bounced back in the second and won that sequence with 12 points, 34-22.

What was the main reason for this was the Clippers’ diversified offense, which had several players. They had 5 guys with 15 or more points, and three with 24 or more. On the other side, the Warriors were as always running things through their deadly trio, Curry-Thompson-Durant.

But the most important thing was that on each occasion, there was at least one person among the guests able to respond to any move the champions make.

Clippers then pulled away to 81-65 at the start of the third, and kept a double-digit distance until the late part of that sequence when Golden State came down to 97-94. But the guests replied with a 7-0 run to get away once again.

In the last period, LAC had a shooting slump during the middle of that part of the game, in which they scored just two points in five minutes, which allowed Warriors to take the lead. The home side was up 118-117 after Kevin Durant’s dunk, and all the people at Oracle believed that this is the end of the series.

"He's a great scorer just like Curry…just like Durant."

Doc Rivers on Lou Williams after a great game in the Bay.#NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/l2XbbngM1h

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 25, 2019

All but Lou Williams, who then created an 8-0 series of his of, which was later continued with Gallinari’s four points. The guests closed this contest with a 12-3 surge which silenced the home fans, who were already starting to get out before the game ended.

Doc Rivers was explaining to everybody after the game, that he has one of the best attackers in the game in his team. Williams was stepping up in all the clutch moments, and his role in the last two minutes was simply immeasurable.

“He is a great scorer, just like Curry, just like Durant,” said Rivers.”When Lou gets his rhythm, he’s tough to guard.”

“He believes he’s a closer, and he is a closer.”

Williams had 33 points last night and was 12 of 19 from the field. But not only that the delivered 10 dishes to his teammates. Gallinari had 26 points and 7 boards, Montrezl Harrell added 24 with only three misses in 14 shots.

Patrick Beverly played the game of the series so far, delivering crucial defensive plays when it counted the most. He scored 5 threes, had 17 points overall and 14 rebounds.

"I thought Patrick Beverley came in and just kicked our butts right away."

Hear from Steve Kerr after the Warriors fall to the Clippers in Game 5.#NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Wb56A14uAR

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 25, 2019

Steve Kerr was specifically mentioning him as the biggest problem for the Warriors tonight.

“I thought Patrick Beverley came in and just kicked our butts right away,” Kerr commented, saying that Beverly’s intensity of play set the tone for the entire game last night.

On the other side, Kevin Durant poured 45 points on Clippers, with 6 boards and assists, Steph Curry had 24, and Klay Thompson added 22.

The series is now going back to Los Angeles. Game 6 will be played next Friday at 8 p.m. local time.