The Clippers and Warriors put on a classic seven-game series, but there could only be one victor. The Clippers seized the game in the fourth quarter and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Clippers concluded a great seven-game series with a 126-121 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 7. The game came down to the final possessions, but the Clippers executed down the stretch and had an answer to the Warriors comeback efforts every time.
The defining moments of the game all played out through the final two minutes, beginning with a great defensive possession. DeAndre Jordan anticipated a layup from Stephen Curry, blocked the shot, and the Clippers immediately pushed the ball up the court. J.J. Redick found a streaking Blake Griffin for an alley-oop dunk. The next points came off of a monster putback dunk from Jordan, and then Griffin finished this incredible acrobatic layup:
Chris Paul had a fantastic game despite hamstring and thumb injuries. He finished with 22 points and 14 assists, but it's the kind of shots he was sinking. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter, showing he was capable of splitting the Warriors' defense or sitting out on the perimeter to snipe from beyond the arc.
DeAndre Jordan was a non-factor on offense and Blake Griffin had an average game for the high standards he set throughout the season, but it was Jamal Crawford who provided the secondary punch for the Clippers' offense. Crawford scored 22 points off the bench, including a four-point play.
Curry finished the night with a game-high 33 points, making three of his seven three-point attempts. Draymond Green came up huge for the Warriors, scoring a career playoff-high 24 points while shooting five-of-eight from beyond the arc.
The Clippers advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.