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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, tries to pass the ball from the floor while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, top, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, center, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and guard Reggie Jackson defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Patrick Patterson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, fouls Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, shoots as Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington, lower right, and center Bismack Biyombo defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk, top, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, tries to pass the ball from the floor while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Patrick Patterson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, fouls Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, top, shoots as Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward, right, passes the ball as Los Angeles Clippers forward Patrick Patterson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, shoots as Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington, lower right, and center Bismack Biyombo defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk, top, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, center, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and guard Reggie Jackson defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 125-98. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Reggie Jackson spoke outside of shootaround Saturday morning about the importance of landing that proverbial first punch if the Clippers want to live up to their billing as one of the NBA’s teams worth fearing.
“We want to come out and hit first,” the Clippers guard said, “rather than counterpunch.”
His squad followed through Saturday night, staggering Charlotte with an early barrage that paved the way for an easy 125-98 victory.
Looking focused and fresh after two days without a game, the Clippers (26-16) made seven of their first nine shots and 15 of their first 21 to build a 16-point first-quarter lead that would grow to as many as 31 at the comfort of Staples Center, where they’ll play 10 of their next 12 games.
Following a frustrating split in Dallas, Paul George was especially effective, recording the first 20-point, 10-assist, no-turnover game of his decorated career, and just the fourth in franchise history to post such a line that also includes five rebounds.
The seven-time All-Star helped get the Clippers going by draining 7 of his first 11 looks for 18 of his team-high 21 points in the first half: “It’s just gotta be the mindset,” George said of Saturday’s swift start. “It’s all about effort and energy. That’s just gotta be the mindset every night.”
George’s sublime playmaking performance — which Lue characterized as “huge for us” — included an on-target pass lofted from halfcourt to Kawhi Leonard for a dunk that made it 50-30 and a pocket pass to Patrick Patterson for one of his two second-quarter slams.
Seven Clippers scored in double figures, with Leonard adding 17, Terance Mann a season-high 16, Lou Williams 15, Marcus Morris Sr. 13 and Ivica Zubac 10.
In his first game against his former team, Nicolas Batum — or, “Nico,” as he’s become known in L.A., including by public address announcer Eric Smith — chipped in with 11 points.
Lue said the Clippers were happy to deliver a dominant victory on Batum’s behalf: “Yeah the guys are very happy and excited for him.” For his part, the unassuming veteran forward acknowledged in his postgame TV interview that it’s “always different” to face your former mates, and, yes, “it was a really good game for us, we needed that win.”
L.A. did its damage without a couple of starters again: Patrick Beverley — who watched the game from the bench, in a white Adidas jacket and shorts — missed his fourth consecutive game with right knee soreness. Center Serge Ibaka was sidelined for the third consecutive game with lower back tightness. Jackson and Zubac started in their places.
“It gets tough, when it’s for a long period of time, when you miss two guys out of your rotation, two starters,” Clippers Coach Tyronn Lue said. “But our next man up mentality, our guys have been great with that. T-Mann was good, I thought PatPat had some good minutes, P.G. getting into the paint.”
The zone defense employed by the Hornets (20-21) did little to slow the Clippers inside, as they outscored Charlotte 56-30 in the paint — while connecting on just 35.3% of the time from 3-point range (12 for 34).
The Clippers’ pile-on included free throws (this time), an area that was a source of consternation in Dallas, where George complained after Wednesday’s loss that he and his teammates weren’t getting the calls they deserved, criticism for which the NBA fined him $35,000.
A game later, L.A. went 23 for 23 at the free-throw line, the third time this season and 26th in franchise history that the Clippers were perfect from the stripe.
Lue’s team also effectively limited its turnovers, finishing with 10 — only two of which came in the second half, with none occurring in a sparkling clean third quarter.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 21 points and rookie star LaMelo Ball, who grew up in Chino Hills, finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in the loss, which was the Hornets’ third consecutive.
The Clippers’ challenge now? String together some victories.
L.A. — 6-8 in their past 14 games — haven’t won consecutive games since reeling off four in a row, a streak that ended Feb. 15 against Miami.
“I think it’s pretty simple,” Mann said. “We just gotta play hard. We’re a scary team when we play hard.”
In other words, come out and hit first.
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