Clippers Have Finally Found Their Groove

Sherman Douglas earned another stripe for his nickname, “The General,” on a Clipper that is searching for leadership.

“Sherman has really picked up this team,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said after the L.A. defeated the Golden State Warriors, 86-83, Friday night.

Douglas drove for a basket with 47.8 seconds remaining, his only hoop of the fourth quarter, to give the Clippers the lead for good.

“They had been stopping our pick and roll, so I just turned the corner,” Douglas said of his final basket.

The Clippers have won four of six games, one more than they had won in their previous 33. The Warriors, who had won three in a row, were dealt a blow to their playoff chances. Golden State trails Seattle by two games for the final playoff berth in the West.

After Lorenzen Wright’s free throws put the Clippers ahead, 78-75, with 1:57 to play, Golden State’s John Starks made a three-point basket with 1:03 to go to tie the score at 78.

Douglas then weaved his way through two defenders and banked in his decisive layup for the 80-78 lead.

“Sherman makes a big difference for them,” Warrior Coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “This isn’t the same Clippers team we were playing before. There’s no question how much better they’re playing.”

Starks threw the ball out of bounds trying to pass it inside on the Warriors’ next possession, and the Clippers made all six of their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Tyrone Nesby had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, and Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 17 points for Golden State. Jason Caffey added 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Clippers led at halftime, 45-42.