OAKLAND – Clearly, the Los Angeles Clippers still are bothered by what they perceive as antics and trash talking by the Warriors.
Even with Chris Paul laboring in his second game back since missing three contests because of a bruised right kneecap, and even after the Warriors won 106-99 Monday, all the Clippers wanted to get across was that they feel they are the better team.
The Warriors talk too much for the Clippers' liking, even if they backed it up by winning the season series 3-1.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro admitted that the Warriors "get up for us, you can tell a little bit. Which is good."
After the Clippers' four-game winning streak ended, Paul was asked about Del Negro's comments.
"Yeah, yeah, a little bit," he said.
Then he paused.
"Young fella Harrison Barnes was talking a little bit over there after the game," said Paul, who talked with Barnes after the game. "It is what it is."
Paul had a poor game by his standards after he collided with Barnes in the first quarter. Paul finished with a season-low four points on 1-of-7 shooting, though he had nine assists.
"Yeah, I was trying to get through it," Paul said of his knee. "I sort of take this loss on me because I feel like I hurt the team being out there trying to play through it."
The Warriors' backcourt trio of Stephen Curry (28 points), Klay Thompson (18) and reserve Jarrett Jack (18) played a role, too.
Led by Curry's 16 points, Golden State outscored Los Angeles 33-19 in the fourth quarter, shooting 55.6 percent from the field and making 4 of 7 three-point attempts. The Warriors finished at 54.5 percent (12 of 22) from three-point range.
The Clippers were left to lament the Warriors' behavior.
"We don't give a … about them," Lamar Odom said. "They got a good team. We got a good team."
Blake Griffin – who had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists – talked about giving the Warriors "credit," but that wasn't all he talked about.
"They're a good team; they're solid," he said. "But by no means are we scared or worried about them. But they've played us well a few times, so you've got to tip your hat to them."
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