Clippers Lose to Trail Blazers 104-96
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Damian Lillard knew better than to underestimate the Los Angeles Clippers without newly traded star Blake Griffin.
Sure enough, the Clippers made a run in the fourth quarter but the Portland Trail Blazerswon 104-96 on Tuesday night.
CJ McCollum added 16 points and Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Blazers, who ended a seven-game skid against the Clippers while winning their third in a row.
Portland shot just 37 percent from the floor, but rode a big third quarter to its third straight win.
The Blazers shot 47 percent in the third, when they outscored the Clippers 30-16 led by Lillard's 10 points.
Griffin was dealt to Detroit in a stunning move on Monday, leaving Los Angeles where he had played his entire career.
Lou Williams scored 20 points off the bench for the Clippers, who made a run in the fourth after they trailed by 20.
Montrezl Harrell scored 11 of his 15 points early in the period and then Los Angeles scored 10 straight points to get to 100-94.
But the Clippers were limited to one field goal in the final 2 minutes.
The Blazers outrebounded the Clippers 59-50, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass. ''When they win the offensive rebounds, they win the game,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
**********LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the LA Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
Sure enough, the Clippers made a run in the fourth quarter but the Portland Trail Blazerswon 104-96 on Tuesday night.
CJ McCollum added 16 points and Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Blazers, who ended a seven-game skid against the Clippers while winning their third in a row.
Portland shot just 37 percent from the floor, but rode a big third quarter to its third straight win.
The Blazers shot 47 percent in the third, when they outscored the Clippers 30-16 led by Lillard's 10 points.
Griffin was dealt to Detroit in a stunning move on Monday, leaving Los Angeles where he had played his entire career.
Lou Williams scored 20 points off the bench for the Clippers, who made a run in the fourth after they trailed by 20.
Montrezl Harrell scored 11 of his 15 points early in the period and then Los Angeles scored 10 straight points to get to 100-94.
But the Clippers were limited to one field goal in the final 2 minutes.
The Blazers outrebounded the Clippers 59-50, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass. ''When they win the offensive rebounds, they win the game,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
**********LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the LA Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.