The Los Angeles Clippers emerged victorious over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, winning 116-103. Paul George led the way with 27 points, while James Harden added 19 points and 14 assists. The win put the Clippers one game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans in the race for the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Scoot Henderson contributed 18 points and five assists for Portland, while Kris Murray scored a season-high 17 points. The teams are set to face each other again on Friday night in Portland to complete a two-game series.
The Clippers broke open a close game with a strong third quarter, scoring 34 points and leading by as many as 27 points at one point. Kawhi Leonard was instrumental in the team’s success, scoring 17 of his 24 points during that period. After leading by just ten points at halftime, the Clippers turned up the heat to extend their lead.
Tyronn Lue praised his team’s ability to build and extend leads as a crucial factor in their victory. “We got really good individuals on the defensive side and we put it together tonight,” George commented on their defensive performance. The Clippers capitalized on Portland’s turnovers throughout the game, converting them into 13 points to build their substantial lead.
Despite multiple timeouts, Portland struggled with turnovers throughout the game, especially in the third quarter. Los Angeles outscored Portland by a margin of 34-20 in that quarter alone to secure their victory and solidify their position in the playoff race as they prepare for their next matchup with the Trail Blazers.
