CLIPPERS 117 ROCKETS 101 F...RED Nation had six days off and the CLIPS had no Point Guard CP3 and CLIPPER NATION hits the Winner's Circle!..."Fight for LARRY" Game 1 turns into "Game Night w/BLAKE" as L.A. wins and B.G. 32 messed around and got a Triple-Double! #LACvsHOU #ClipperNation #RedNationRising #LACLeads1-0

Just like that the Houston Rockets with all those core players knowing what the "Winning Time" is about lays an egg in game 1. The Clippers just 40 some odd hours removed from that dramatic game 7 vs the Champs steal home court and game 1 buying time for the injured Chris Paul who was out with a bad "Hammy"!

It was Austin Rivers who started in place of CP3 and he responded with 17 points and four steals. All five Clipper Starters were in double figures as they shoot near 50% from the field and the Rockets lending the Clips a helping hand by committing 23 turnovers two more than L.A..

Los Angeles just looked more in sync and on point as Blake Griffin not only goes for a game-high 26 points but adds fourteen boards and thirteen helpers to boot. Jamal "206" Crawford added 21 off the bench playing point a lot down the stretch as L.A. also won on the glass.

Rockets Star and NBA M.V.P. runner-up had 20 points and a dozen assists but nine turnovers doomed his game 1. Dwight Howard led #RedNation with 22 points and ten assists. Rockets also missed 10 free throws and shot 11 for 33 from deep.  

The game was won when Dwight hit a hook shot making it 89-88 Clippers with under 8 minute to go in the 4th. Clips go on a 12-0 run the next three minute of the 4th highlighted by two Matt Barnes triples and a money ball from Jamal "206". Houston never recovered and now we head to Game 2 on Wednesday with the Clips up 1-0 with the possibility of CP3 joining the Clippers Line Up.