Clippers, Blake Griffin eye Game 5 against Warriors

It became clear to Blake Griffin that the Clippers got through a messy weekend and actually put themselves in a pretty good position, basketball-wise.

The Clippers’ loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series left the best-of-seven series tied, 2-2.

But by winning Game 3 in Oakland on Thursday night, the Clippers reclaimed the home-court advantage after losing it with a first-game loss.

Game 5 is Tuesday night at Staples Center.

“I think guys know it,” Griffin said the positives. “But the sting of that loss is still there. I don’t think we should just be like, ‘Hey, it’s all right. We got a win. It’s fine.’ I think we should let this sink in.

“But at the same time, it’s a three-game series now. We have home-court advantage, and we just gotta get it done.”

Griffin and the Clippers played Game 4 under a dark cloud because of racist comments against African Americans allegedly made by team owner Donald Sterling.

A voice purported to be Sterling’s is heard in an audio recording released by TMZ on Friday night telling a friend that he was upset she posted a picture on Instagram of herself next to Lakers legend and Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson. The person on the recording said that he didn’t want her associating with black people.

But Chris Paul said it wasn’t difficult for the Clippers to put their all into the game despite the
ugliness of the Sterling drama.

“No, because it’s about those guys in the locker room, our guys, our teammates,” Paul said. “We prepare. We’ve been through training camp and this is what we love to do.”