LA Clippers Hold Off Portland On Road
Blake Griffin can rest easy and focus on rehab knowing that his Clippers are undefeated in his absence.
Chris Paul had 21 points to hold off the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. The Clippers led by 22 at half-time but the Blazers kept pushing to cut the lead to single-digits late in the fourth quarter.
The lead was cut to six points where J.J. Redick made a crowd silencing three-pointer that was answered by Damian Lillard on the other end.
Both teams attacked the basket but it was a clutch three pointer by Paul Pierce to get the lead back to double-digits that put the game out of reach.
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The Clippers have now won seven straight games going back to Christmas day. They have also won six straight on the road, although one of those “road” games was in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
This is also their sixth straight victory without Blake Griffin. The Clippers star is still undergoing rehab after suffering partial tear of his left quad tendon.
Without their biggest offensive threat, the entire squad has stepped up in his absence. Against the Blazers, five players were in double figures.
Paul had an incredible night that with 19 assists to compliment his 21 points. Redick had a huge game with 20 points. Pierce provided 17 points, including five hits from beyond the arc.
Jamal Crawford had 10 points while Austin Rivers attacked off the bench with 16.
DeAndre Jordan finished the night with a solid double-double with 14 points and rebounds.
The Blazers were led by another big night from Damian Lillard with 20 points with four three-pointers. He was bolstered by 19 points from Mason Plumlee.
Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis rounded out the stat sheet for Portland with 11 and 12 points respectively.
The Clippers are playing some of their best ball without Griffin.
The Clippers appear to have found their rhythm after hitting a slump in December. While they eagerly await the return of Griffin, it is imperative that they stay on course to remain in the upper bracket of the Western Conference.
Currently, the Clips are in the fourth seed and are two games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The schedule is in their favor as their next six games are at home.
Their next pair of games are against the Hornets and the Pelicans who they will face for the second time in as many weeks.
The final game of their home stand will come against the Rockets whom they are 0-2 against this season following their collapse in the playoffs last year.
Next: Anthony Brown Stepping Up Big
The team hopes to be in great momentum when they go to Cleveland to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers later this month.