If Game 1 of this Western Conference quarterfinal series between the Los Angeles Clippers and defending champion San Antonio Spurs is any indication, we're in for the ride of our lives.
The Clippers shot the lights out in the first quarter of Sunday's game at Staples Center, taking a 30-18 lead after 12 minutes. The veteran Spurs threw a solid counterpunch in the second quarter, using a balance attack to cut the deficit to six at the half.
However, it was too much Blake Griffin and too much Chris Paul for the Spurs to handle on this night, as Los Angeles pulled away for a 107-92 win in front of a electric home crowd almost completely clad in Clippers red.
Key Stat:
22-11. The Clippers closed the 3rd quarter on a 22-11 run, pushing a four-point lead to fifteen and effectively ending the game with a barrage of highlight-reel plays, including a Blake Griffin flush/Steve Ballmer freakout set to destroy the Internet...
Los Angeles MVP:
Blake Griffin is the X-factor to end all X-factors in this series. While Tony Parker has the right tools to play Chris Paul's foil on any given night, there's no one on the Spurs' roster than can legitmately check Griffin at his hottest.
Griffin was molten at times on Sunday, taking over the pace of game for long stretches en route to posting a double-double (26 points,12 rebounds).
And oh yeah...Chris Paul went full boss mode and led all scorers with 32 points. So there's that.
San Antonio MVP:
It was the Kawhi Leonard Show and little else for the Spurs for most of Sunday's game. Leonard led San Antonio with 18 points and was the only San Antonio player (other than maybe Patty Mills and his 4th quarter 3-point barrage) to do efficient work on the offensive end.
What's Next?
The teams will take two days off before resuming this firecracker of a series at Staples on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for just after 7:30pm PST.
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