For the third straight game, the Clippers were in a contest too close for comfort that challenged their composure.
They have managed to withstand similar challenges over the last two games, and on Sunday night the Clippers pulled out a 112-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
The Clippers lost in overtime to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome by three points. But they recovered to win at Denver on Saturday night by five points before beating the Warriors.
“I think we got the right intent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Like, no matter who is playing, all as we come out with the win, you see everybody on the bench cheering for one another, and that’s what it’s about. … If you got the right intent and your heart is in the right place, you are going to play good basketball…
“But to win two of the three close games against three very good teams, I thought it meant a lot. It meant a lot about our character and how we want to play and compete every night.”
Of the four Clippers players who scored in double figures, center Ivica Zubac was the most dominant.
Zubac continued his strong play to open the season, posting his second straight double-double with 23 points and 17 rebounds to go along with six assists. He has scored at least 20 points in the first three games, making him the second center in franchise history to achieve the feat. Bob McAdoo, while playing for the Buffalo Braves, did it three times — in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Zubac became the first Clippers player since DeAndre Jordan in 2015 to have at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in consecutive games.
“It’s only been three games, but I’m trying to bring the consistency,” said Zubac, who played a game-high 37 minutes and 31 seconds. “I’m trying to keep it up as long as I can. I’m trying to bring the same stuff every night for my teammates so they can count on me. They can count on me on the defensive end and the offensive end and count on me to rebound, to protect the rim, score in the post, finish around the rim. So, I’m trying my best to bring that intensity.”
James Harden is the leader of the group, an orchestrator who makes it easier for his teammates. He didn’t shoot particularly well, going six for 19 from the field, but he had 23 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
Few expected the Clippers to be in this position, winning close games while their best player, Kawhi Leonard, continues to sit out with inflammation in his right knee.
“We focus on what we got going on in this locker room, our organization,” Harden said. “Like, that’s not our job to be worried about other people, trying to surprise other people. Our job is to go out there and play hard for each other, play well and try to win games for each other.”
Norman Powell did his best work in the second half, scoring 18 of his 20 points.
Powell’s big moment came late in the fourth quarter when the Clippers’ 13-point fourth-quarter lead was slipping away despite Warriors guard Stephen Curry not playing because of a sprained left ankle.
With the Clippers up by three, Powell blocked a three-point shot by Buddy Hield. Then Powell raced down court, took a pass from Zubac and drilled a jumper from the corner.
There was also the play from Derrick Jones Jr., who provided the Clippers with some offense to go along with his stellar defense.
Jones had 18 points on seven-for-10 shooting, including three-for-four on threes.
“I feel like in my previous years I wasn’t comfortable on offense,” Jones said. “I was always confident in my game, but I just never felt comfortable and never had a rhythm out there. But last year in Dallas it opened up a lot for me shooting-wise. This year, I’m just doubling down on it, putting the ball on the floor whenever I need to, getting to the rim as much as I can.”
