It didn't take long for the first-round series between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers to get heated. Clippers forward Wilson Chandler reportedly got in a tense exchange with a Warriors fan sitting courtside right before halftime, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
Wilson Chandler just got into it with a #Warriors fan sitting courtside behind the basket. Security appears to be escorting him. This game got heated REAL fast. #Clippers
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 14, 2019
Fortunately, it appears the situation did not spill into becoming a lengthy verbal spat, let alone a physical altercation. The last thing the NBA needs on the opening day of the postseason is a repeat of what transpired last month between Russell Westbrook and a Utah Jazz fan who directed abusive, racist language at the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar.
But, hey, it's the NBA playoffs. Fans are cheering for their home squad, and jeering towards their series' opponents. Likewise, players are fired extra up and get emotional. Without a doubt, these two teams have have had some bad blood with each other for quite some time now. Their rivalry even stems from the Clippers' Lob City days, and appears to have carried over to Doc Rivers' typically gritty new group of players.
The Clippers were the NBA's Cinderella team in 2018-19. They've had a chip on their shoulder all season, entered this matchup with the two-time defending champions as major underdogs.
Los Angeles put up a fight in Game 1, but like Chandler, lost its collective composure just before halftime en route to a 121-104 loss. Steph Curry was sensational for Golden State, finishing with 38 points, a whopping 15 rebounds, and seven assists on 11-of-16 shooting. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, meanwhile, combined for 51 points off the bench for the Clippers.
As Game 1 showed, despite the disparity in talent between these two teams, this series figures to be a tough out for the back-to-back champions.
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