Trail Blazers experience second-half blues against the Clippers in Game 1

For a half, the Portland Trail Blazers were in the game against the Clippers.

Then the second half started and the Trail Blazers were suddenly out of the game, their poor play during those 12 minutes sending them on their way to a 115-95 loss to the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs Sunday night at Staples Center.

Portland trailed by just eight points at the half.

But there was a point when the Trail Blazers went down by as much as 21 points in the third quarter, forcing them to play catch-up the rest of the way.

They never did.

Portland made just 31.6% of its shots in the third. On defense, the Trail Blazers were equally as bad, allowing the Clippers to make 60.9% of their shots in the third.

The Trail Blazers even went to the Hack-A-DJ in the fourth in an attempt to get back into the game. But the intentionally fouling of Clippers center DeAndre Jordan still didn’t help the Trail Blazers.

Now they’re behind, 0-1, in the best-of-seven series that resumes here Wednesday night.

The Trail Blazers needed guard Damian Lillard to have a big game.

Even though Lillard averaged 25.1 points against the rest of the league, he had been held to just 18 points per game against the Clippers in four regular-season games.

Lillard was held in check by the Clippers again.

He had 21 points, but he missed 10 of his 17 shots, five of his eight three-pointers.

Lillard’s backcourt mate, C.J. McCollum, didn’t have one of his better games.

He had just nine points on three-for-11 shooting, one for five on three-pointers.

Playoff surprise?

When the 2015-16 NBA season began, no one had the Trail Blazers making the playoffs.

They had lost four starters off last year’s team, leaving them in a rebuilding mode.

Or so everyone thought.

Not only are the Trail Blazers in the playoffs against the Clippers, Portland was the fifth-seeded team in the competitive Western Conference.

“I know a lot of people didn’t expect us to be in the playoffs, but that was a goal of ours at the beginning,” Portland Coach Terry Stotts said. “We never shied away from that as a goal, even in November and December when were a few games under .500. So we’re pleased to be here, but I wouldn’t say that we’re necessarily surprised.”

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Clippers guard Chris Paul is fouled by Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum during a battle for the ball in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers center Cole Aldrich looks to pass to a teammate before Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard can steal the ball during the fourth quarter of Game 1.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers guard Jamal Crawford makes despite the defensive effort of Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe during Game 1.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers power forward Blake Griffin battles for rebounding position with Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee in the first half of a playoff game last season.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is fouled by Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee while attempting a shot during Game 1 on Sunday.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers forward Blake Griffin dunks over Blazers center Mason Plumlee, who is called for a foul on the play in Game 1 on Sunday night at Staples Center.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers center DeAndre Jordan blocks a layup by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs on Sunday.

  (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

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Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and center DeAndre Jordan, right, try to steal the ball from fallen Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of Game 1.

  (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

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Clippers guard Chris Paul is pressured by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard on a drive during the first half of Game 1 on Sunday.

  (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

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Clippers forward Wesley Johnson blocks a shot by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of Game 1.

  (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

In early November, Portland was 4-9. In late December, 11-20.

Those were the times when the Trail Blazers looked as if they were headed to the lottery.

But they recovered from those two swoons and stayed the course.

They finished the regular season 44-38.

“We never put a number of wins on what we expected,” Stotts said. “But we did expect improvement from within and we were pleased with that, pleased with the growth of the team.”