Clippers at Warriors
The slog through an inconsistent and drama-filled regular season is over for the Golden State Warriors, who can finally get to the business of winning a third straight NBA championship and fourth in five seasons. The top-seeded Warriors will begin their quest by hosting the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Saturday.
Golden State is 16-2 in the first round over the last four seasons but isn't overlooking the Clippers, who made the playoffs despite numerous preseason lottery predictions. "They've been getting better with every move they've made," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Los Angeles. "They've really set themselves up for the future, and I think just making the playoffs surprised a lot of people. But the way they've played the last couple of months, they've been rock-solid. They're a tough opponent. It doesn't matter who you play in the playoffs - you're gonna get tested, and it's gonna be fun." The Clippers dropped three of their last four regular season games, including a 131-104 setback at Golden State, to fall into the No. 8 spot and go into the postseason with a pair of rookies in the starting lineup. "Not a lot of teams that ever have had two rookies starting going into the playoffs, but we do," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "And (center Ivica Zubac) is like a rookie. So, that experience for them is gonna be amazing ... and we want them to have a great experience. They're gonna have to grow up fast, but I think they will."
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (48-34): Los Angeles starts a pair of rookies in the backcourt in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet but surrounds them with plenty of experience. Sixth man and leading scorer Lou Williams (20-point average) will take the big shots at the end of games along with veteran small forward Danilo Gallinari (19.8 points) while veteran point guard Patrick Beverley will be counted on to provide tough defense against the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. "I'm happy for the opportunity for Shai, (Shamet), (Zubac), some of the guys that have never been to the playoffs," Beverley told the Southern California News Group. "You make your name in the playoffs."
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (57-25): Golden State is full of playoff experience with most of the key pieces back from the last two NBA title runs, but center DeMarcus Cousins will be enjoying his first postseason experience. "I'm about to be on a stage that I've never been on before, and it's crazy," Cousins told reporters. "I'm so (expletive) excited. I plan on leaving it all on the floor. I'm trying to take my game to another level and show everyone a player they've never seen before. That's my plan." Cousins, who averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30 games after returning from an Achilles injury, will not be asked to shoulder the scoring load with Curry (27.3 points), Kevin Durant (26) and Thompson (21.5) around.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Curry (ankle) sat out Wednesday's season finale but is expected to play Game 1.
2. Williams averages 11.2 points on 37.6 percent shooting in 52 career playoff games.
3. Golden State took three of the four regular-season meetings, with the lone loss coming in overtime at Los Angeles on Nov. 12.