Los Angeles Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley has never been a stranger to the dynamics of trash talk and playoff intensity.
After all, this is the same player that made a diving effort to steal the ball from Russell Westbrook with Russ heading toward the sideline to call a timeout during a 2013 playoff showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Beverley's dive resulted in Westbrook tearing his meniscus and missing the remainder of the playoffs.
Beverley's reputation as an agitator and hard-nosed defender has led him to get into scraps with some of the best players in the game, including more run-ins with Westbrook, LeBron James and, most recently, Kevin Durant.
The Golden State Warriors crushed the Clippers in Game 1 of their first-round matchup, but there were plenty of fireworks between Durant and Beverley, both of whom were ejected following a hard foul from Durant and a verbal exchange that led to each player receiving their second technical.
Durant brushed off the incident after the game, saying he actually enjoyed the competition and that he appreciated Beverley's “grit.” However, Durant also made it clear that he would not get baited into another back-and-forth in Game 2.
Beverley took full advantage of the mind games, staying in Durant's jersey throughout the entire contest when the two were matched up. Durant finished the game with a season-high nine turnovers, and both players fouled out.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kevin Durant reiterated that he would not engage in the mental warfare with Patrick Beverley.
"I'm not going to get in the way of the game because I want to have a little back-and-forth with Patrick Beverley. I'm Kevin Durant. You know who I am. Y'all know who I am." https://t.co/rdpK0jxNJv
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2019
The Warriors head to Los Angeles with the series tied at one apiece after the Clippers pulled off the largest comeback in NBA playoff history in Game 2.
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