2014 NBA Playoffs: Clippers blow first fourth quarter lead of the season
Nobody’s perfect. Before tonight, the Los Angeles Clippers could make this claim, but by losing Game 1 to the Golden State Warriors, they become mortal like the rest of the league.
According to Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles, the Clippers loss in the opening game of the 2014 season was the first time all season that the Clippers had squandered a fourth quarter lead, going 33-0 over the span prior to today.
This is the first time this season, the Clippers have led during the 4th quarter and lost.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 19, 2014
That’s impressive.
Despite outscoring the Clipper 26-22 in the fourth quarter, countless opportunities, a costly fourth quarter turnover form Darren Collison, Blake Griffin gaining his sixth foul, missed free throws by Chris Paul in the final minute of the game and stepping on the out-of-bounds line with less than 10 seconds on the clock from Darren Collison all came back to bite the team in the behind, all overshadowing Chris Paul’s brilliant quarter.
The Warriors are still an under-manned bunch, but knowing they can defeat the Clippers could make for a long series. Chris Paul and company are no longer impenetrable in the most important quarter of the game.