GAME 4 CLIPPERS LEAD SERIES 3-1: CLIPPERS TAKE CONTROL WIN GIVES THEM 3-1 SERIES LEAD CLIPPERS 100, DENVER 86.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

DENVER - Nobody said it would be easy for the Clippers to win their first playoff series since moving to California in 1978. Actually, nobody said it would be easy to even get to the playoffs, where they find themselves for the first time in nine years.

But in stretches of Game 4 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, things looked easy - Harlem Globetrotter easy. The Clippers often asserted their dominance by simply making shots, something the Nuggets have had problems doing all series.

The Clippers took control of their Western Conference first-round series against the Nuggets with a 100-86 victory over Denver at the Pepsi Center, which put the Clippers ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

In some ways, the Clippers are now enjoying their best postseason success in the history of the franchise. In the 35-year history of the franchise, there has been just one series win, but that was just a quickie 3-game series and came in 1975, when the team was the Buffalo Braves.

Depending on the perspective, either the Clippers' defense or the Nuggets' horrid shooting was the biggest issue. At one point, in the third quarter, the Nuggets were 1 of 13 from 3-point range until Earl Boykins made two 3-point shots in a row.

The Clippers went up by 23 points in the fourth quarter, and groups of Denver fans exited with 8:28 to play.

It was an all-around deflating night for the Nuggets and their fans as the Clippers led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and were up 78-64 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Clippers pounced on the Nuggets in the first half to go up 56-45 at halftime. They led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter and did it with blistering shooting.

Los Angeles shot 62.2 percent in the first half to Denver's 42.2 percent. The difference in 3-point shooting was even greater with the Clippers shooting 100 percent (4 of 4) and the Nuggets shooting an abysmal 10 percent (1 of 10).

Strangely, the sore point from the Clippers' Game 3 - turnovers - stayed a sore point. They had a whopping 25 turnovers in Game 3 and answered that with nine in the first half.

They also limited Denver's fast-break points to six. The Nuggets led the league in fast-break points in the regular season.

Backup point guard Shaun Livingston was sensational in the first half, going 4 of 4 for eight points and dishing out four assists. The performance helped him stay in the lineup to start the third quarter, and coach Mike Dunleavy rarely strays from his starting lineup to the start the second half.

Corey Maggette again had a good start. The reserve had 11 points in the first half as did Elton Brand.

Carmelo Anthony had 11 first-half points to lead the Nuggets, but he continued to struggle with his shooting. He shot 3 of 9 in the first half, and his shot selection at times looked poor.

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 5 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley is guarded by Denver's Carmelo Anthony in the first half Saturday.

(2) Clippers forward Elton Brand battles Denver's Reggie Evans for a rebound in the first half of Saturday's Western Conference first-round game. Brand finished the game with 10 rebounds to go with his 11 points.

Andy Cross/Denver Post

Box:

(1) WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND BEST-OF-7 CLIPPERS LEAD, 3-1

(2) 1ST

(3) 2ND

(4) 3RD

(5) 4TH