Both teams came out shooting well to start the game, but the Clippers eventually pulled ahead and ended the quarter with 40 points and up by 13. Although this 13 point margin would eventually expand to 27 at one point, it was basically the average gap throughout the game. Even better, the Clippers led from the middle of the first quarter on.
The Clippers, surprisingly, took the same number of shots as the Pelicans and only made three more field goals. The difference was at the free throw line, where the Clippers took 33 and made 26, while the Pelicans went 10/18.