Los Angeles Clippers Run Away With Game One – Impressed?

The ruling was that Matt Barnes did not throw Aron Baynes, but he might as well have.  After the play in the third quarter, the Clippers outscored the Spurs the rest of the way to win game one 107-92.  In a game where it was believed the Spurs experience would expose the holes in the Clippers team, the Staples Center was treated to a brilliant show by the team in white.

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Chris Paul had one of the best post-season games of his career with 32 points, six rebounds, and six assists.  The Staples Center crowd acknowledged the All-Star’s brilliance with the chants of “MVP” when he went to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.  Co-leader Blake Griffin assisted with 26 points and 12 rebounds.  Jamal Crawford had a great game, providing 17 points that gave the team as much a morale boost as it did help on the scoreboard.  It was an important sign as it builds on Crawford’s return to double digits in the regular season finale against the Suns.

Blake Griffin posterized Aron Baynes in brutal fashion.

The Spurs’ stars were severely outscored as Kawhi Leonard was held to 18 points and Tim Duncan was held to 11.  Both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli pitched in 10 points.  Parker left the game in the first half after rolling his ankle and colliding his thigh with the knee of Chris Paul.  The Spurs guard appeared to clutch at his hamstring afterward which was cause for concern as his issues with his hamstring kept him out of several games earlier this season.

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Though the Spurs were ahead at halftime, the play that changed the momentum was one that had very little effect on the scoreboard.  The Clippers Matt Barnes and the Spurs Aron Baynes engaged in a tussle for the ball where it appeared that Barnes threw Baynes to the ground.  After a lengthy review the ruling was that there was no foul and required only a jump ball.  The play however energized what had been a stagnant Staples Center and the effect was clearly seen after.  Blake Griffin would go on to dunk on Baynes twice in plays that electrified the arena crowd, none more than the passionate team owner Steve Ballmer who was featured on television cheering in what has become his trademark emphatic fashion.

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The Clippers went on a 27-10 run and never looked back as the cushion led to a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter where the Spurs were simply unable to catch-up.  The game was an important one in setting the pace for the series as the Spurs talent was widely expected to provide a stern test for the Clippers.  The Clippers need to win Game 2 on Wednesday night to retain home-court advantage.  The series moves to San Antonio on Friday and the Clips undoubtedly want to go on the road with a two-game lead.  The team is now undefeated in eight straight games going back to the regular season.

In other news, per Jill Painter’s Twitter feed, Chris Paul is set to be honored before Game 2 at the Staples Center with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award.  It would be remiss if it wasn’t mentioned that the NBA’s leader in assists for the season is also receiving a community assist award, undoubtedly he took notes from his brother Cliff.

Game 2 of the Clippers-Spurs series will be on Wednesday at the Staples Center, aired live on TNT at 7:30pt.

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