The Clippers beat the Trail Blazers 136-125 hoping to avoid play-in tournament
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (SF) driving toward the key at the Crypto.com Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The game the Los Angeles Clippers (43-38) had to have to help avoid the play-in-tournament took care of their business by beating the Portland Trail Blazer (33-48) at the Crypto.com Arena 136-125.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring with 27 points, Norman Powell off the bench with 24 points, Russell Westbrook with 20 points, and Ivica Zubac with 14 points and ten rebounds.
The Clippers on defense had their hands full, with Kevin Knox II scoring 30 points, Shaedon Sharpe 26 points, and Trendon Watford with 24 points.
Los Angeles will play their last game of the season against the No.4 seed Phoenix Suns, who will rest their starter after clinching the No.4 Seed in the Western Conference, pending on the Lakers and Minnesota games, and if the No.5 seed Clippers win, the worst they could finish is the No.7 seed.
"I hope they sit all five guys. I'll take it however I can get it," Lue said. "My main focus is doing what we have to do to get into the playoffs. It doesn't matter what seed."
"We have to win. That's the focus," Leonard said.
Portland Trail Blazers #11 Kevin Knox’s (SF) jump shot is being challenged by the Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (SF) at the Crypto.com Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Ivica Zuback made back-back- baskets, and a layup by Russell Westbrook, gave the Clippers a 6-4 lead in the first quarter. The Trail Blazers were down 8-5 with a jump shot by Knox II.
Leonard was fouled on his made layup and made one free throw to have the Clippers trailing 23-19. Norman Powell was fouled on his three-point shot and made two free throws to have the Clippers trailing 31-24. The Clippers trail at the end of the first quarter 33-26.
The Clippers found themselves down by two points, 41-39, with a pass from Mann to Plumlee for a dunk. Bones Hyland would tie the game 46-46 with his three-point shot. The Clippers would trail 49-48 with two free throws by Leonard.
Westbrook would knock down a three-pointer, and the Clippers trailed 60-55. The Trail Blazers led 67-57 with a three-pointer by Harrison.
Portland led at halftime 70-64, with Sharpe, with 21 points and Trendon Watford with 18 points. Leonard led the Clippers in scoring, with 14 points, Westbrook 13 points, and Zuback 10 points.
Los Angeles Clippers #33 Nicolas Batum shooting a three-pointer in fron of his bench. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
The Clippers would regain the lead in the third quarter, 74-72, after Leonard was fouled on his made basket and made one free throw. Nicolas Batum would make a three-pointer to give the Clippers an 80-72 lead.
The Blazers trail 84-79 with a layup by Sharpe. Eric Gordan would knock down a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Clippers a 91-85 lead. Portland trailed the Clippers at the end of the third quarter 109-86.
With 4:28 left in the game, Powell's jump shot gave the Clippers a 126-109 lead. Xavier Moon's jump shot made the final score 136-125 over the Trail Blazers.