INGLEWOOD — The Clippers figured they had learned not to come out flat at the start of games. In their first two games this season, they found themselves staring at early deficits.

One game they fell flat on their faces. The next game, the Clippers were able to pull themselves out of a hole and ran away with a 27-point victory against the Phoenix Suns.

This time, they started well but flatlined in the second quarter before finding their pulse in the second half to pull out a 114-107 victory on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Intuit Dome.

The Clippers (2-1) needed all of Kawhi Leonard’s 30 points, Ivica Zubac’s 21 points and eight rebounds, and James Harden’s 20 points and 13 assists to get by the Trail Blazers.

Call this a lesson learned as the team cannot afford too m

See Full Page