Clippers at Warriors
The Clippers had a chance to establish themselves as the most dominant team in the city of Los Angeles on Sunday but instead fell 112-103 to the Lakers in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference. The Clippers will take a steep step down in competition when they visit the NBA-worst Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
Los Angeles won six straight games before running into the Lakers on Sunday and is not dwelling too much on the loss. "It doesn't set us back," Clippers forward Paul George, who scored a team-high 31 points in the loss, told reporters. "They played. They were the team that really wanted it. They went and got it today. We have to play them one more time. Life goes on. We're not down about it. Just keep it rolling." The suddenly surging Warriors are winners of three of their last five games and are coming off a 118-114 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday despite star guard Stephen Curry sitting out due to illness. Golden State brought Curry (broken hand) back for the first time since Oct. 30 on Thursday in a 121-113 loss to Toronto and hope to have both Curry and former All-Star forward Draymond Green (knee) back on Tuesday.
TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, Sportsnet One
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (43-20): Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points to join George on Sunday and Montrezl Harrell added 20 off the bench but no other player scored in double figures for Los Angeles, which was facing the Lakers with a fully healthy squad for the first time this season after winning the first two meetings shorthanded. "The Lakers just played more physical. They were into it more, they executed more, they deserved the game tonight," coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "They really did. The fact that we had chances was unbelievable to me." George's 31 points marked his first 30-plus effort since going for 32 in a win over the Knicks on Jan. 5.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (15-49): Golden State guard Damion Lee got a chance to shine with Curry out of the lineup over the last several months but endured some criticism after missing a late 3-point attempt and a pair of free throws in Thursday's loss to the Raptors. Lee bounced back with a team-high 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting in Sunday's triumph and scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 contests. "Damion has so much toughness (and) perseverance," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "You think about how he's gotten this far - something like that the other night, a tough finish. If you play in the NBA long enough, stuff happens like that, so he bounced back quickly. He had a great game the other night too. He played really well the whole night through, just had a couple tough plays at the end."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors rookie PF Eric Paschall scored 20 or more points in four of the last six games and is averaging 21 points in that span.
2. Clippers F Marcus Morris was held to one point on 0-of-9 shooting in Sunday's loss.
3. Los Angeles took each of the first two meetings, including a 141-122 triumph at Golden State on Oct. 24.