Clippers pull off biggest playoff comeback in NBA history, overturning 31-point second-half deficit
Tuesday 16 April 2019 14:07, UK
Stephen Curry says the Golden State Warriors Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers 'is going to sting a little bit'.
The defending NBA champions raced into a 94-63 third-quarter lead and appeared on their way to going up 2-0 in the first-round series.
However, the Clippers rallied behind red-hot sixth man Lou Williams, using a franchise-record 44 points in the third quarter to get within 108-94, then with relentless attacking in the final period to put themselves in a position to win in the final seconds.
With 16.5 seconds left, Clippers rookie Landry Shamet drained a decisive three-pointer to complete the historic comeback. The Clippers ran out 135-131 victors and levelled the series at 1-1.
Speaking after the game, Curry, who combined with team-mate Kevin Durant for 50 points, said: "It's just one game. The circumstances were tough having that big a lead at home. It's the same mindset when you lose a game, it's 1-1, we've got to go down to LA, take two [wins] starting on Thursday and keep moving.
"That's something about our team we have been able to prove and demonstrate time after time. Our resilience has to be there. It's going to sting a little bit, knowing how precious every game is in a playoff series."
Curry praised the play of Williams, who poured in 36 points to fuel the Clippers' fightback, but acknowledged the small mistakes the Warriors made in the third quarter had contributed to surrendering their huge advantage.
"Lou Williams played amazing tonight. He hit big shot after big shot. But at some point our collective mindset has to be there to make it tough on him at some point," Curry said.
"We turned the ball over a little bit too much. I hated my fourth foul - eight minutes left in the third quarter and our whole rotation changes. A lot of little things that gave them confidence. That snowball effect.
"Then it's a make-or-miss situation in the last six minutes and they made more shots than we did. It's tough for sure, especially considering how well we were playing at that point [in third quarter].
Game three takes place at Staples Center, Los Angeles, in the early hours of Friday morning (3:30am) and you can watch the game live on Sky Sports Arena.