(The Sports Xchange) - Blake Griffin recorded a triple-double and received plenty of support in the absence of Chris Paul as the Los Angeles Clippers claimed a 117-101 road victory over the Houston Rockets in Game One of their Western Conference semi-final on Monday.
With Clippers point guard Paul sidelined by a strained left hamstring, the Clippers rode balanced scoring and the Rockets' benevolence to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Griffin, the Clippers' star power forward, finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. Guard Jamal Crawford scored 21 points off the . . .
