NBA

Clippers Take Out Trail Blazers 115-95 in Game One of NBA Playoffs

Chris Paul scored 28 points and dished out 11 assists in his highly coveted showdown with Damian Lillard, and the Los Angeles Clippers took care of the Portland Trail Blazers 115-95 in Game One of the NBA Playoffs.

LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul scored 28 points and dished out 11 assists in his highly coveted showdown with Damian Lillard, and the Los Angeles Clippers took care of the Portland Trail Blazers 115-95 in Game One of the NBA Playoffs. 

Blake Griffin looked the best he has since returning from injury and suspension as he threw down rim-rattling dunk after dunk against the Portland frontcourt. Griffin nearly had a triple-double in Game One, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. 

"Tonight he was explosive," head coach Doc Rivers said. "I think the time off, the practices and the fact that now he's been back for a while, I think that all came through tonight."

Tonight he was explosive. I
think the time off, the practices, and the fact that now

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he's been back for a while, I think that all came throug

Before the game, Rivers said that L.A.'s strategy would be to guard Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard tough, but let him get his points, focusing on shutting down everyone around him.

Los Angeles was able to do that for the most part, as Lillard led Portland with a team-high 21 and the Clippers were able to limit everyone around him as only Gerald Henderson scored more than 10 points (16).

"We told our guys that they're shot makers. They're going to make shots. We've got to live through it," Rivers continued. "But what we didn't want is to make mistakes. We played really well, but I did think we made a few mistakes that we could clean up."

DeAndre Jordan was the defensive anchor as Los Angeles sent Lillard and McCollum to the Clippers big man, making sure they guarded the perimeter. Jordan returned the favor by rejecting a game-high four shots on the night.

The Clippers starters were the story in Game One as they combined for 82 points and an astronomical +101 on the night. Paul, Griffin and Jordan each posted a double-double for the fifth time in their postseason history together.

The young kids of the Trail Blazers will have a lot of improvement to do in Game 2 of the series, but showed promise in stretches at Staples Center on Sunday. 

"In the first half we played them really well, we were right there," Lillard said. "We had the lead, but in the second half, that's when they really separated. We have to do better and move on to the next game."

Players of the Game:

Chris Paul: 28 points and 11 assists.
Blake Griffin: 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
DeAndre Jordan: 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.
Damian Lillard: 21 points and eight assists.

Three Takeaways:

Block Party: DeAndre Jordan made his defense a focal point for the Clippers down the stretch of the regular season and that carried over into the playoffs on Sunday as the big man blocked a game-high four shots. It was the 10th time Jordan had four or more blocks in the NBA Playoffs, most in the NBA since 2013.

Dame Dolla vs. CP3: The stars of the State Farm Commercial series, "The Hoopers," Damian Lillard and Chris Paul put on a show on Sunday as the two point guards battled throughout the game. Both played well, but CP3 got the best of "baby" in Game One.

Hack A DJ: Former Clipper Chris Kaman and the team's current center, DeAndre Jordan, got into some pushing and shoving on the court in the fourth quarter when Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts opted to go with the "Hack-A-DJ" strategy down the stretch, as Portland continued to intentionally foul Jordan before the two-minute mark. At one point, Kaman shoved Jordan, to which DJ took offense. On the next play, Jamal Crawford, pushed Kaman, leading to some chippiness by both teams.

Up Next:

The Clippers will look to take a stranglehold on the series when they host the Trail Blazers again on Wednesday night at Staples Center in Game 2 of the best of seven series.

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