Smooth Performance of the Night: Griffin's 2nd straight triple-double downs Rockets

Blake Griffin might as well have told his Los Angeles Clippers teammates to hop on his back.

With Chris Paul sitting out of Game 1 against the Houston Rockets due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the midst of his heroics 48 hours earlier, Griffin went out and recorded his third triple-double of the postseason - and second in a row - in L.A.'s surprising 117-101 victory Monday night.

The line was gaudy - 26 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high 13 assists. After the L.A. victory, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the game plan was to have Griffin be more of a facilitator. It worked like a charm, with the Clippers outscoring the Rockets 71-51 in the second half.

Griffin became only the third non-guard to register back-to-back postseason triple-doubles, joining Hall of Famers John Havlicek (1968) and Wilt Chamberlain (twice in 1967). The last player to do it in the playoffs before Griffin is also a big name.

Griffin is now averaging 24.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists on 46.1 percent shooting in this year's playoffs. He's playing 41 minutes a night, earning the compliment "Energizer Bunny" from Dwight Howard on Monday.