Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant drives against Los Angeles Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Thursday, April 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant scored 38 points, Stephen Curry added 21 playing with five fouls, and the Golden State Warriors dominated from the opening tip to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 132-105 Thursday night and take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
The Warriors began the game on a 22-9 tear and went on to shoot 73% from the floor in the first, taking the crowd out of it early.
Durant was perfect, making all five of his field goals and both free throws for 12 points. He and Curry picked up two fouls each, but the Warriors still built a 19-point lead.
Kevon Looney, again filling in for injured DeMarcus Cousins, shot 4 for 4 in the first, dunking three times in a row.
Game 4 is Sunday at Staples Center.
The Clippers won Game 2 on the road after trailing by 31 points in the third quarter, stunning the Warriors with the largest comeback in NBA playoff history.
But they couldn’t find the basket this time, shooting 37% from the floor.
Their only starter in double figures was rookie Ivica Zubac, who finished with 18 points after playing most of the fourth. Patrick Beverley, a defensive pest in Game 2, was limited to six points, four fouls, one rebound and no assists in 18 minutes.
Lou Williams had 16 points, and Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green added 15 each off the bench.
Los Angeles never led and failed to put together any kind of sustained run.
Golden State’s biggest run came in the third at the same time Curry was whistled for his fourth foul. The Warriors scored 14 straight points to lead 88-57. Durant and Green got hit with offsetting technicals during the spurt. Durant laughed it off and sank a jumper from the left corner seconds later.
The Warriors extended the margin to 35 on Alfonzo McKinnie’s 3-pointer late in the period.
Durant had 27 points at halftime when the Warriors led 73-52.
TIP-INS
Warriors: They controlled the boards, 50-43, led by Andrew Bogut with 14. … They had 35 assists.
Clippers: Kentucky coach John Calipari sat in the second row to support his former player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with seven points. … Floyd Mayweather, Meek Mill, Scottie Pippen and Sheila E. with her dad Pete Escovedo were in the crowd.
CASH AND CARRY
The $2,000 that Doc Rivers dropped on the street in San Francisco earlier in the week was his per diem while on the road. A man picked up the dough and caught up to Rivers to return it.
“They give you cash these days,” the coach said. “Maybe we need to go back the other way.”
UP NEXT
Game 4 is Sunday in Los Angeles.