The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t need any late-game heroics from Paul Pierce in their playoff opener.

The Clips needed just 11 minutes and two points out of Paul in a 115-95 blowout victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers kept it close at the Staples Center early on, but L.A. separated itself late in the first half and pulled away in the third quarter.

Chris Paul (28 points, 11 assists), Blake Griffin (19 points, 12 assists) and DeAndre Jordan (18 points, 12 assists) all posted double-doubles, while JJ Redick (17 points), Jamal Crawford (13 points) and Austin Rivers (11 points) balanced the attack.

“Our offense was really clicking,” said Griffin, who was sidelined much of the new year due to injury and suspension. “I thought we were doing the things we wanted to do. That helps. I got easy shots. Pretty close to how I want to feel.”

Portland Trail Blazers v Los Angeles Clippers - Game One

L.A. was aggressive from the jump, using its size and strength to power through the lanes. The Clippers won the battle of the boards, 48-40, on their way to outscoring the Blazers in second-chance points, 16-5.

Griffin established his dominance right from the start. Jordan missed his second straight free throw before Griffin boxed out underneath the rim to tip in the attempt, 2-0.

“Tonight he was explosive,” coach Doc Rivers said of Griffin. “I think the time off, the practice, the fact that he’s been back for a while came through tonight.”

In his sixth game back from his 45-game absence, Griffin led all scorers with 10 points in the first period.

The Clippers didn’t hit their first three-pointer until the the third quarter, when CP3 and Crawford splashed their first ones home. The Clips finished 6-of-17 (35 percent) from beyond the arc, opting to go inside more to outscore the Blazers in the paint, 48-34.

While LA used the three-ball sparingly, Portland used it to stay competitive early and to limit the damage late.

The Blazers shot 35 percent from the floor in the first half, but knocked down five triples to the Clips’ zero to stay in it. Damian Lillard led the way with 21 points, and tied it at 42 with a floater with 2:48 to go in the half. But L.A. scored eight straight to make it 50-42 going into the locker room.

The first half featured eight ties and six lead changes, but Los Angeles was all business after the break, leading by as many as 23. Paul dished on one of the Clips’ six three-pointers in the second half. Five Clippers had nine or more points in the second half to pull away.

Game 2 of the Clippers-Blazers series is set to start Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. PT. The contest will broadcast nationally on TNT from the Staples Center.

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