CLIPPERS FORWARD

Blake Griffin slams the ball against the “We Are One” logo after his first offensive play against the Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs. The Clippers won, 113-103.

The dark cloud of owner Donald Sterling was lifted, and that allowed the Clippers to play with freedom against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

Unburdened after Sterling was banned for life by Commissioner Adam Silver earlier in the day, the Clippers worked hard to pull off a 113-103 victory over the Warriors in Game 5 at Staples Center to open a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is Thursday night in Oakland.

“I just thought they had great mental toughness tonight,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “They really wanted to win this game and I thought tonight they did that.”

No Clipper seemed to want it as much as DeAndre Jordan, who scored a playoff career-high 25 points despite making only nine of 17 from the free-throw line. He also had 18 rebounds and four blocked shots.

“He texted me right after we got back to L.A. [Sunday night] and said, ‘That wasn’t me and I will be back,’ ” Rivers said, referring to Jordan’s scoreless effort in Game 4. “I didn’t know he meant that.”

Chris Paul (20 points), Blake Griffin (18 ) and Jamal Crawford (19) all did their part for the Clippers, who lost Hedo Turkoglu to a bruised lower back.

Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 21 points.

The day started when Silver banned Sterling for life