Warriors are under Clippers’ skin, if not in their heads

OAKLAND — Clearly, the Clippers still are bothered by what they perceive as antics and trash talking by the Golden State Warriors.

Even with Chris Paul laboring in his second game back since missing three because of a bruised right kneecap, and even after the Warriors won, 106-99, at Oracle Arena on Monday, all the Clippers wanted to get across was that they think they are the better team.

The Warriors talk too much for the Clippers’ liking, even if Golden State backed it up by winning the season series 3-1.

Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro acknowledged 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 had a conversation with Barnes after the game in front of Golden State’s bench. “It is what it is.”

Paul had a poor game by his standards after he collided with Barnes in the first quarter. He finished with a season-low four points on one-for-seven shooting, though he did have nine assists.

“Yeah, I was trying to get through it,” Paul said of his injured 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) all played a role too.

The Warriors outscored the Clippers, 33-19, in the fourth quarter, when they shot 55.6% from the field and made four of seven three-point attempts. They shot 12 for 22 from three-point range (54.5%) for the game. And they outscored the Clippers, 16-6, in the final four minutes.

That left the Clippers lamenting the Warriors’ behavior.

“Yeah, they want to make a statement,” Lamar Odom said. “They’re a young team as well.”

Odom paused and finished his thoughts about the Warriors.

“We don’t give a . . . about them,” 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 played the best they can play in three of these games that we played against them,” he said. “They’re a good team, they’re solid. 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.”

The Clippers lead the Pacific Division with a 32-10 record. Golden State is second at 25-15. The only way the teams can meet again this season is if they meet in the playoffs.

And if that were to happen, the Clippers will know they lost three of the four games to the Warriors.

“That’s cool,” Paul said. “I’m not worried about it by no means. I don’t think about them too much, to tell you the truth.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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