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    Clippers crank up the energy, blow past Blazers in season opener
    • October 26, 2023

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook dunks during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guards Russell Westbrook, left, and Bones Hyland celebrate a basket during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III defends during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Paul George dunks as Portland Trail Blazers Deandre Ayton, second from left, watches during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, center, shoots as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and forward Robert Covington defend during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, dunks as Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant defends during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers star Paul George takes a shot during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon, center, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, and forward Paul George defend during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook dunks as Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, left, watches during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook celebrates during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, celebrates after scoring as forward Kawhi Leonard looks on during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Robert Covington, left, goes in for a layup as Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson looks on during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Robert Covington dunks during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers guard Norman Powell, left, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, center, defends and Clippers center Mason Plumlee watches during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard takes a shot as Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson defends during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers center Ivica Zubac dunks during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, left, shoots as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers center Ivica Zubac takes a shot during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook celebrates during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, celebrates with teammate Paul George during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, celebrates with forward Paul George, center, after scoring as Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant walks away during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Norman Powell takes a shot during the first half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers star Paul George shoots as Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook smiles after scoring as Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant stands behind during the first half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker, left, shoots as Clippers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton go after a rebound during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks as Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson looks on during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Rapper 2 Chainz looks on from a courtside seat during the season opener between the Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara shoots as Clippers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. (6) defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, left, and Clippers star Paul George go after a loose ball during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers center Mason Plumlee, right, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker shoots as Clippers forward Moussa Diabate (25) defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots as Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers center Mason Plumlee, right, tries to shoot as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    The Portland Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons handles the ball as Clippers star Kawhi Leonard defends during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton, left, and Clippers guard Russell Westbrook go after a loose ball during the second half of their season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Clippers guard Russell Westbrook fires up the crowd after scoring during the second half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    Actor/comedian Kevin Hart looks on from a courtside seat during the season opener between the Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    The Portland Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons takes a shot during the second half of their season opener against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, takes a shot during the second half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard gestures after a basket during the second half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant takes a shot during the second half of their season opener against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    The Clippers’ Bones Hyland, left, and Paul George celebrate a basket during the second half of their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    The Portland Trail Blazers’ Malcolm Brogdon takes a shot during the second half of their season opener against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

    Clippers mascot Chuck The Condor waves a large flag as members of the team are introduced prior to their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

    A general view of Crypto.com Arena before the season opener between the Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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    LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George took the court together in a season opener for the first time in three years on Wednesday night. The last time the superstar duo was fully healthy at the start of the season was 2020, a long time and many injuries ago.

    It was a sight Coach Tyronn Lue had been waiting to see. And he liked what he saw.

    Leonard and George – in the lineup together for just 38 games last season, when both were derailed by injuries – took charge of the game from the start and with help from Russell Westbrook, Bones Hyland and Ivica Zubac, they ran over the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-111, at Crypto.com Arena.

    “I know it’s a long season but having Kawhi and PG both in the starting lineup, being able to play tonight with no restrictions, it’s good to see,” Lue said before tipoff.

    The Blazers were starting their own revised era – their first season without perennial All-Star Damian Lillard, who demanded a trade and eventually landed with the Milwaukee Bucks. The young players, including highly touted rookie Scoot Henderson, were no match for George, Leonard and Westbrook once they got moving.

    “(I liked that we were) just playing hard, competing, like I said, having a defensive mindset, being physical, getting into the ball, getting the bodies and Zu protecting the rim,” Lue said after the wire-to-wire win. “That’s what we got to be every night.”

    Lue said he thought their offense would take time to gel as they get to know each other. That might have accounted for the 17 turnovers against Portland, which struggled to control its own mistakes (17 turnovers) against the Clippers’ focused defense.

    Scoring, however, wasn’t a problem for the Clippers. George led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, while Leonard added 23 points – hitting all five of his 3-point attempts – and Zubac finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

    Westbrook also had a double-double with 11 points and 13 assists, the most by a Clippers player in a season opener since Andre Miller in 2002, as the Clippers finished with 36 assists on their 47 field goals.

    Hyland finished with 17 points.

    “I was very happy about our offense because we haven’t been shooting the ball well, so to make 16 threes, go 16 for 34 for 47%, that’s unusual after the way we’ve been shooting the ball this preseason,” Lue said.

    The trio of Leonard, George and Westbrook played just 10 games together after Westbrook joined the team in February as injuries cut short their time. Leonard said Wednesday’s game was a good example of what the Clippers could accomplish.

    “I think we just have to step out on the floor and like he said, just show an example that we’re engaged and locked in from the beginning,” Leonard said.

    “It could just translate over to everybody else and they could carry over.”

    Malcolm Brogdon, who was tentatively headed to the Clippers in a three-team trade in June before it fell apart, led the Blazers with 20 points. Anfernee Simons added 18 points and Deandre Ayton added four points and 12 rebounds. Henderson finished with 11 points, four assists and four turnovers in 36 minutes in his debut.

    The biggest blemish on the high-energy night was the absence of Terance Mann. Mann, sporting a knee-high walking boot on his sprained left ankle, was forced to watch the season opener sitting down, missing his initial start at power forward.

    Robert Covington filled in for Mann and capped the first half by blocking a shot by Jabari Walker. Covington had five points in his first start in two years.

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    The start of the game might not have been what Lue had planned on with Mann out and the Clippers getting off to a bit of a slow start, but the middle and certainly the finish made him happy.

    The Clippers ramped up their intensity, evident by Westbrook’s trademark hustle. After beating Portland’s Henderson for a layup in the first quarter, he stood in the corner of the court, waving his arms and yelling to the crowd to get pumped up.

    The crowd responded enthusiastically with nearly every fast-break, deflected pass and rebound as the Clippers took a 20-point lead by halftime and led 99-73 after three quarters.

    The Clippers allowed Portland to make some headway in the fourth as Toumani Camara and Brogdon buried back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the lead to 102-79 with 9:40 left. With their lead shaved to 20 points, Lue put the starters back in and the Clippers closed out a 12-point victory.

    “It feels good,” Leonard said of his healthy start. “I’m happy that I had a good offseason, able to get back healthy. Like I said, I felt good in training camp going into this season and came out (of) the game feeling good as well. So just going to keep it going from here.”

    PG-13 sounds off on the W! @LAClippers | #ClipperNation | @Kristina_Pink pic.twitter.com/RJQkNEoQNi

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    PG PUNCH

    He’s up to 27 points on the night.

    POR/LAC – Live on the NBA App: https://t.co/wjSd7HW3Ja pic.twitter.com/BHJzUrceKa

    — NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2023

    Klaw Russ @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/ozlPWCgxl6

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/1FB7rQKzn4

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    BONES TO BRODIE @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/RHOtJscvI8

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    COUNT IT @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/fyju9MzcNg

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    Coach Lue addressed the media following the W in the season opener @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/4WaSrXlPQE

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    THE KLAWWW@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/tS2eKMeE21

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    Red Hot @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/RH1BNX2dxT

    — Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 26, 2023

    ​ Orange County Register 

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