The Los Angeles Clippers have taken game one of the first round beating the San Antonio Spurs 107-92. Chris Paul ended the game with 32 points, seven boards, and six assists. Blake Griffin had a double-double with 26 points and 12 boards. Kawhi Leonard had a Spurs high 18 points.
The Clippers got off to a fast start against the Spurs outscoring them 18-30 in the first quarter behind Griffin’s nine points and three point shooting. Once the second quarter arrived the Spurs started to look like themselves as the Clippers seemed to take their foots off the pedal.
Late in the 2nd the Spurs tried to combat a 14-6 run by the Clippers by doing a Hack-A-Jordan, but surprisingly he hit 4 of 8 free throws and even sent a Manu Ginobili layup deep into the crowd.
Just like the first half, the Clippers came out aggressive and looked to pushed the tempo. Griffin got in two highlight reel dunks, Barnes was up to his usual tough guy antics, and they finished the quarter on a 22-11 run.
The 4th quarter brought more of the same, a lot of Griffin and even more Chris Paul who was hitting jumpers from all over. The Spurs shot an abysmal 34-93 36.6% from the field while the Clippers shot exceptionally better 51% 40-78 from the field. If Los Angeles can keep up the defensive intensity they really have a shot against the defending champions.
Look out for news on Tony Parker’s ankle, he tweaked it early in the game and didn’t seem to have his usual level of explosiveness.
Game 2: Wed. April 22, San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET
