Clippers Take Control of Series Behind Big Fourth Quarter
- Updated: April 21, 2016
When the playoffs roll around, all good teams find ways to take care of business on their home floor and the Los Angeles Clippers have done just that.
Led by Chris Paul, the Clippers took a 2-0 lead with a 102-81 win in the best of seven series as they head to Portland for game 3.
As they have done so many times this season, the Clippers started out with a triple from J.J. Redick and took control of the game from there. After leading 22-17 after one-quarter of play, the Clippers bench – led by 3-time sixth man of the year Jamal Crawford – took command of the second quarter. The Clippers bench had 43 points on the night – to the Blazers’ 10 – as Doc Rivers continued to go 10-deep with his bench rotation (Pablo Prigioni played the final minute of the game) as all bench members had a +/- of + double digits which will be a key factor as the Clippers go forward.
The Blazers went on a run as the starters returned in the second quarter and managed to cut the deficit to four points at half time.
However as they did in game 1, the Clippers came out of the half time break on a mission as they were able to hold the Blazers to 6-24 shooting in the third quarter as Chris Paul and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute again managed to stifle the youthful Portland back court. The pair have shot just 36% and 31% in game 1 and 2 respectively as the Clippers have taken advantage of the lack of perimeter shooting on the Blazers line up.
The Clippers managed to put a double-digit gap on the Blazers early in the fourth quarter after they missed nine consecutive field goals at one stage before Austin Rivers hit a step back three and Crawford got a lay up following a block on a Damian Lillard shot (one of four on the night) to essentially ice the game. Doc Rivers again took no chances, bringing back the starters to close out the game as the Clippers ran out comfortable winners on the back of a 35-point fourth quarter.
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Chris Paul finished with 25 points on 10-22 shooting after he heated up in the second half while Redick finished with 17 points. Blake Griffin had less of an impact than he did in game 1 but just finished shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while DeAndre Jordan grabbed 18 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots. Cole Aldrich was again a dominant presence off the bench with eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
The Blazers were a much improved side from their game 1 showing despite what the scoreline says as they were able to free up C.J. McCollum a little bit more despite his shots just not falling as Clippers now head to Portland to try to take a commanding 3-0 lead in this series. The Blazers will be a different side on their home floor and while the Clippers have now won five games in a row against the Blazers, this series is far from over.
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