INGLEWOOD — The stage was set for a shootout, a showdown, something.
Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, long-regarded as the top shooter in NBA history, was going up against Clippers point guard James Harden, the newly minted No. 2 on the career list for 3-point baskets, in an early season test in front of a near-sellout Intuit Dome crowd.
But a contest between the game’s two most prolific long-range shooters never materialized.
Curry outdueled Harden from behind the arc and from the field overall, posting 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists. But the four-time NBA champion couldn’t get a 3-point attempt to fall in a frenetic final seconds as the Clippers held on to win, 102-99.
Curry was tested more by Clippers guard Norman Powell, especially in the fourth quarter.
The two exchanged 3-pointers, but it was Powell, who ranks fifth in the league in 3-point field goals this season, who came out on top, hitting three of them in the final six minutes to propel the Clippers to a second consecutive victory.
Curry had been listed as questionable for the game because of bursitis in his left knee but his availability was never in doubt, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. It took him a little more than a half to get going, but he hit 10 of 21 shots and made six 3-pointers, adding to his 800-plus basket lead on Harden.
A day earlier, Harden conceded Curry’s dominance at the arc.
“I mean, I’m one of the most confident guys that we have in this league. But no, I probably won’t catch Steph,” said Harden, who trails Curry by an insurmountable 811 shots. “And I don’t think anybody will honestly.”
Harden had a good night off the ball, posting 16 assists and 12 points despite not feeling great. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he had been feeling ill the past two days.
Powell shook off soreness in his left hamstring and finished with adding to his distinction as the Clippers’ best overall shooter.
Powell has scored 20 or more points 10 times this season, including three games with 30 or more. He came into the game averaging 23.3 points and shooting 46.9% from long range.
Ivica Zubac had 17 rebounds – 10 in the first half – to go along with eight points. It’s the fifth time this season he’s recorded 10+ rebounds in a single half. Zubac did it five times all last season.
After posting a double-digit victory on Sunday, the Clippers (8-7) found themselves fighting to finish off the Warriors (10-3) on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Clippers led, 56-45, at the end of the first half, but watched as their advantage disappeared in a barrage of 3-pointers. The Warriors, with Curry hitting three of his 3-pointers in the period, tied the score at 72-all by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter turned into a 3-point contest, with the Clippers hitting five long-range shots and the Warriors three.
Andrew Wiggins (22 points) made one to pull within 102-95 with 2:12 remaining. After a Curry layup, Wiggins cut to the basket for another basket and further trimmed the lead to 102-99.
But the Warriors couldn’t get a final shot to fall, Curry missing with 12 seconds left and Gary Payton II missing a 26-footer with two seconds left, and lost to the Clippers for a second time this season.
More to come on this story.