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Griffin, Clippers rout Warriors to knot series

Apr 22, 2014 - 6:25 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Griffin shook off a quiet opener and netted a game-high 35 points in Game 2 as the Los Angeles Clippers cruised past the Golden State Warriors in a 138-98 wire-to-wire drubbing on Monday.

The Clippers seemingly played with a chip on their shoulders two days after losing homecourt advantage in this Western Conference quarterfinal series and a day after the NBA admitted officials missed a critical foul call down the stretch of that 109-105 loss.

"I liked the way we approached the game. Blake was terrific, our bench today was fantastic. There was no let up," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said.

Griffin shot 13-of-17 from the field en route to netting a playoff career high, while six other Clippers also scored in double figures, with Chris Paul logging 12 points, 10 assists and five steals in the rout.

"I was able to play more aggressive tonight," Griffin said.

Los Angeles forced 26 turnovers and held the usually high-scoring Warriors to 4-of-19 shooting from behind the arc in the widest margin of victory in the franchise's limited postseason history.

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 24 points, while Draymond Green, Jordan Crawford and David Lee checked in with 11 apiece.

"I was disappointed in our effort, that was a desperate basketball team and we didn't match it. They made plays, we played bad, we were awful." Warriors head coach Mark Jackson admitted.

Despite the humbling setback, the Warriors head home for Game 3 on Thursday with the series tied at a game each.

Griffin hit a running hook shot on the game's first possession, J.J. Redick connected from long range the next time down and six straight free throws staked the Clippers to a 15-4 lead less than six minutes in.

Jamal Crawford barely beat the first-quarter buzzer with a layup off a steal, giving the hosts a 31-20 cushion.

Griffin, who scored just 16 points in the series opener due to foul trouble, had 14 in the first quarter alone and added seven more in a lopsided second.

The Warriors were outscored 36-21 in the frame in part because of nine turnovers and LA's 9-of-11 efficiency at the foul line.

The margin at the break was 67-41 and grew to 33 at 82-49 via Paul's 3- pointer early in the third, and the Warriors never made a run the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Danny Granger finished with 15 points for the Clippers, who shot 56.6 percent from the floor and 12-of-25 from 3-point range ... The 138 points was the most ever for the Clippers in a postseason game ... Griffin was five points away from matching Elton Brand's franchise playoff record ... This was the most points given up by the Warriors in a postseason game since the Suns scored 140 points against them on May 4, 1994.