Game One: 99, 92 Hornets
We took the first game at Staples with 23 points from Chris Paul and 19 from Blake Griffin, who was back to his normal swingin’ self in his second game back from injury. He played 36 minutes and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Our defense kept Charlotte to 41% shooting, where DeAndre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds. Paul also handed out eight assists.
Clippers 116, Kings Less
Like the Pistons, we played back-to-back games. Los Angeles hit 17 three’s on the road, banging seven home by J.J. Redick alone. Hedo Turkoglu was starting in place for Matt Barnes, whose dealing with some hamstring trouble.
Turkoglu got his day started by having lunch with his good friend and former Kings teammate Divac, now a Sacramento executive. But by the time he made his first shot, a 3-pointer in the game’s opening minutes, Turkoglu had Divac hollering at him from his courtside seat.
“Vlade told me, `No more making shots,”‘ Turkoglu said. “I told him, `I’m wearing a Clippers uniform. I’ve got to make those shots!”‘
“Vlade is part of my family,” Turkoglu said. “He’s like a brother to me,” (NBA.com).
In all, the ex-Sacramento snarf drained five of ten from downtown.
Paul led the way again on 30 points from 13-20 shooting, not to mention 11 assists.
With no DeMarcus Cousins, Jordan snagged 15 boards and blocked four shots. Griffin also went for 36 minutes in this affair, scoring 19 again and grabbing 10 rebounds.
That gives the Clippers 44 wins in the locked Western Conference.