Griffin, Paul carry Clippers to victory over Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore -- Blake Griffin and Chris Paul each scored 27 points to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday night at the Moda Center.
Griffin grabbed 13 rebounds and Paul had five rebounds and five assists as the Clippers won their season opener.
Damian Lillard led Portland with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Moe Harkless scored 23 points to go with eight rebounds and Mason Plumlee contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Blazers (1-1).
Griffin collected 16 points and six rebounds as the Clippers took a 58-49 lead into intermission. Paul had 12 points and Marreese Speights 11 while Portland got 12 apiece from Lillard and Harkless in the first half.
The Blazers opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run to seize a 59-58 advantage, benefitting from the Clippers' 0-for-7 shooting start. Portland sank 14 of 21 shots in the quarter, but the score was tied 82-82 heading into the final period.
Griffin's three-point play gave the Clippers a 95-89 lead with 6:05 remaining, and moments later the margin was 99-89. Paul then buried a 3 and Jamal Crawford followed with a fast-break layup to make it 104-89 with 3:20 to play. The Blazers went on a 13-3 run to get to within 107-102 with 34.4 seconds to go.
Paul sank two free throws 1 to make it 109-102 with 31.4 seconds left. Lillard followed with a basket, but Crawford converted a pair at the line for a 111-104 lead with 21 seconds remaining to put the game on ice.
Portland led 27-21 late in the first quarter, but the Clipper reserves went on a 16-0 roll to forge a 37-27 lead early in the second quarter.
Griffin's follow dunk increased the Clippers lead to 46-34 midway through the quarter. The Blazers closed the difference to nine at the half.
NOTES: Clippers F Alan Anderson is dealing with a sore foot, though he was available for duty Thursday night. "He misses practice sometimes, and that will be for a while," coach Doc Rivers said. "We're going to have to be patient with that. We'll protect him. There will be nights early in the season where if I don't have to play him, I won't." ... The Blazers and Clippers played 11 times last season, including preseason. Portland eliminated L.A. in six games in the first round of the playoffs. "That type of familiarity brings out a rivalry," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ... The coaches disagree on whether it's advantage that the Blazers opened the season Tuesday night, the Clippers two days later. "It's an advantage for them," Stotts said. "They had the opportunity to scout us against Utah." Countered Rivers: "I'd prefer to have played. It's always nice to play first and then play a team that is having opening night. (The Blazers) worked them all out. We'll have to do that on the fly."