The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 102-81, to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round playoffs Monday at Staples Center.
Chris Paul was the leader and difference maker for the Clippers in their tough win over the Blazers. The first three quarters of action were tight knit and many Clippers defensive breakdowns and mistakes pretty much kept the Blazers within striking distance. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum practically shot Portland out of the game, and the Clippers were able to rally behind a dominant fourth quarter performance. Los Angeles outscored Portland 35-20 down the stretch and Doc Rivers squad proved a needed ability to close out tight games against tough opponents late in games. The problem for the Clippers has been consistent throughout previous playoffs runs and during this past regular season, but Paul and JJ Reddick were not having any of that in Game 2.
Chris Paul went on to finish with 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal on 10-of-22 shooting, while JJ Reddick rounded out the backcourt with an 17 points, which included three shots from behind the arc. DeAndre Jordan was unable to find his touch under the rim, but still managed a lowly a three points to go alongside a monstrous 18 rebounds. Recent Sixth Man of the Year award winner Jamal Crawford pitched in 11 points off the bench in 26 minutes of action.
LIllard and McCollum jacked up 39 shots, but only connected on 12 of them combined as the duo finished with 33 points, but it was far from efficient shooting to keep their team in the game when it mattered most. Mason Plumlee stepped up where the backcourt could not and added 17 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with seven assists in the stat stuffed box score, but the Blazers shot just 34.1 percent from the field as a unit.
The series will move back to Portland for Game 3 on Saturday.
