Powell, Clippers hold off Curry, Warriors

CLIPPERS

Terance Mann (14) of the Clippers scores between the Warriors’ Lindy Waters III, Stephen Curry and Trayce Jackson-Davis on Monday at Intuit Dome. Harry How / Getty Images

Clippers guard Norman Powell drives against Warriors forward Draymond Green on Monday night. Mark J. Terrill / ap

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By Janis Carr

Correspondent

INGLEWOOD — The stage was set for a shootout, a showdown, something.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, long-regarded as the No. 1 shooter in the league, was going up against Clippers point guard James Harden, the newly minted No. 2, in an early season test in front of a near-sellout Intuit Dome crowd.

But a contest between the game’s two greatest long-range shooters never materialized.

Curry outdueled Harden from the arc and from the field overall, posting 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists. But the Warriors couldn’t get two 3-point attempts to fall in a frenetic final few 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 3s, who came out on top, hitting three 3-pointers in the final six minutes to propel the Clippers (8-7) 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 the four-time NBA champion hit 10 of 21 shots and made six 3-pointers, adding to his overall total of 811 made 3-pointers.

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 made. “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. Coach Tyronn Lue said he had been feeling sick the past two days.

Powell shook off soreness in his left hamstring and finished by 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 points. He came into the game averaging 23.3 points and shooting 46.9% from long range. He is tied for fifth in the league with 53 made 3-pointers.

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 found themselves fighting to finish off the Warriors in 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 five 3-pointers. The Warriors, led by Curry’s three 3-pointers, tied the game by the end of the third quarter, 72-72.