HOUSTON "� Blake Griffin provided everything most of the Los Angeles Clippers usually receive at the hands of Chris Paul.
There were the gives, Griffin survivor routinely finding his teammates for shots they couldn"�t help develop on their own.
There was the leadership, Griffin giving a halftime address and with a huddle on the court half way through the fourth quarter.
And there is the finish, Griffin grabbing three springs back and making two free tosses in the final 2½ minutes ın the Clippers"� stunning 117-101 victory on top of Houston Rockets in the opener ın the Western Conference semifinals Monday party at Toyota Center.
Griffin often briefly imitated Paul in a way that bothered Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
"�I got on him because he commenced off doing the Chris thing, "� In the said, referring to the star rock handler he held out because of a stretched left hamstring. "�He stopped desiring that score and I told him, coming from one point, "�We need you to have everything, "� and he did it. "�
Griffin was strong in every section, finishing with 26 points on a nine-for-19 shooting, 14 rebounds as well as , 13 assists "� his finally triple-double in eight playoff online casino games.
The big showing helped the Clippers win without their primary alpha dog on the road against a team emerging off nearly a week of rest.
"�My main message throughout the entire mission was to stay together, "� Griffin said. "�There was no reason for unites states to crumble and fall apart. "�
The Clippers didn"�t despite giving 20 turnovers through the first 3/4 and trailing by as many as 13-14 points. They used a 12-0 surge midway through the fourth part that featured two three-pointers a Matt Barnes and one by Jamal Crawford to quiet a crowd that had been roaring only moments earlier. Griffin had assists on two of most of the three-pointers.
Paul high-fived Griffin as well as , smiled after the Rockets called a additional time during the decisive run that handed the Clippers a 101-88 begin. Dressed in a green jacket with a schokohäutige collar, Paul was demonstrative the main game on the bench, continually stimulating his teammates.
"�Without Chris, all of us have to step up, "� Griffin recounted. "�It"�s not one person"�s job, it"�s all of our jobs. I think if you look at most of the stat sheet and the way associated with played tonight, it was everybody. "�
Just about. Crawford had 21 ideas off the bench and Barnes near the top of 20. Austin Rivers, making the woman first career playoff start, has 17 points, four steals as well as , three assists to go with three renouvellement, and DeAndre Jordan had 10 tips, 13 rebounds, five assists and 4 blocks.
That more than offset Dwight Howard"�s 22 points for Freeport. Rockets shooting guard James Shore up scored 20 points on a unreliable six-for-13 shooting in his first mission since finishing second to Hot State"�s Stephen Curry in balloting for the NBA"�s most valuable player prize.
Houston"�s athleticism presented a very different challenge for the Clippers from the San Antonio Spurs"� fundamentals as well as , smarts in the first round, a string that went the full seven online casino games. But the Rockets were also sloppy meanwhile with the ball, committing 24 turnovers inside the Clippers"� 23.
Rivers said the man decided to hold Paul out the money concern that he might re-aggravate most of the injury.
"�If you re-injure that the majority of, "� Rivers said, "�then you"�re done and it"�s not appeal the risk. "�
Rivers said having been unsure if Paul would fun time in Game 2 on Saturday.
Paul, who did not speak with reporters Monday, sustained the injury Sat in the first quarter of Online 7 against the Spurs.
Rivers recounted Paul talked to him all around possibly playing but Rivers didn"�t want to hear it.
"�There are numerous things, a knee or a specific product, and you say, "�OK, we"�ll learn what you"�ve got, "� "� Rivers said. "�This is one individuals, "�I don"�t want to see what you currently have because if you"�re wrong, then you"�re wrong for the series and it"�s not worth the risk. "� "�
Ultimately, the Clippers showed that it had the resolve to hang on without Paul.
"�I don"�t fully understand if we stay together like that as i have said in the season, "� Griffin recounted. "�The ups and downs of the playoffs, most of the battle we had in the first brown is an invaluable lesson. You can"�t get that type of experience, clearly down on the road early and staying meanwhile with the game plan.
"�We didn"�t change my game plan, we played harder, associated with played smarter and we kept breaking away. "�
Visit the Los Angeles A number of hours at www.latimes.com
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