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NBA Playoffs: Clippers vs. Trail Blazers Game 1 recap, full highlights

ByCody Williams|

The Clippers ran away with Game 1 to take an early series lead over the Trail Blazers

There was a deserved hefty amount of ballyhoo regarding the first round series in the 2016 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. Given the ceilings that both teams had shown they can reach throughout the regular season—and partially because of the obvious flaws for both teams—seeing the two Western Conference foes square off in Round 1 looked like arguably the best matchup of the first eight.

Everything seemed to be playing out according to that notion in the first half on Sunday night in STAPLES Center as the home team and the higher seed in the Clippers would jump out to a minor lead behind the efforts of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, but Damian Lillard and company would quickly erase their deficit and be right back in the thick of things. The Trail Blazers went into halftime trailing the Clippers by eight points, but having to feel like the game was totally in their reach.

However, the Clippers must’ve felt like they were firmly in control (or they had a fire lit underneath them in the locker room) with no signs of letting up, because they came out of halftime firing on all cylinders. Paul, Blake, and DeAndre Jordan seemed to be fully in-sync while they locked down defensively to disrupt the rhythm of Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

Ultimately, the Clippers pulled away to a huge lead in the third quarter and never relinquished control. They handily captured Game 1 at home and now look ahead to Game 2 as they hold a 1-0 series lead.

Three Stars

Chris Paul, Clippers – 28 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, two steals

DeAndre Jordan, Clippers – 18 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks

Blake Griffin, Clippers – 19 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block

Highlights

Next Game

Game 2 between the Clippers and Trail Blazers will be on Wednesday night back at STAPLES Center where the Clippers will again try to protect home court.

For all your NBA Playoffs coverage, stay in touch with the FanSided NBA hub.

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