Trail Blazers rally late, but fall to Clippers 100-94
34. Final. 100. 77. 94
After trailing much of the game, the Portland Trail Blazers did their customary “turn on the jets late” routine, building a six-point lead with six minutes to go. Unfortunately, after a dominant first three quarters, LaMarcus Aldridge was stopped, and not even Damian Lillard could save the Trail Blazers as they quietly slipped under the water, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 100-94.
Recap
The game started out all wrong. The Trail Blazers were 1-6 from deep in the first quarter, and the rest of their offense wasn’t stellar either outside of Aldridge, who had 12 points in the period. Still, they were only down six points after one, and it felt like, if they could keep it close, they would have a chance to win it late as they’ve done so many times before.
The second quarter started well with Meyers Leonard legitimately pushing DeAndre Jordan out of rebounding position more than once. Leonard was hitting shots, grabbing rebounds, and playing reasonable defense, and he’s now averaging 10 and 8 over the last 5 games. Meanwhile, Aldridge kept up his torrid pace: if not for his 22 points, the Blazers would have gone into halftime trailing by a lot more than just a point at 50-49.
Leonard was working HARD on the boards in the third, hitting shots and looking more confident than ever. It was among his best outings as a Trail Blazer; the stats didn’t reflect how well he was playing. But a in a game-defining sequence, the Trail Blazers used every ounce of energy they had to track down offensive rebound after offensive rebound, getting three good looks in a single possession… and missing each one of them. The Clippers then got a three on the other end, a punch to the stomach. The Trail Blazers did manage to get Clippers in the penalty halfway through the third, and took advantage, but after a series of fouls they could only tie it at 72 by quarters’ end.
With 10 minutes left in the fourth, the Trail Blazers got their first lead since the first basket of the game, and Chris Kaman threw down a dunk to stretch it to four. The Trail Blazers kept pushing, and after a very cold first three quarters, Lillard netted a rare field goal to make it six and force the Clippers to call time.
But Los Angeles pushed back, and hard. When available, the Trail Blazers didn’t capitalize on their opportunities, and the lead evaporated. Now down three with just over a minute to go, Wesley Matthews backed down Chris Paul and stumbled. Instead of gathering himself and passing, he took an ill-advised shot that was blocked, and then was called for a foul, sending Paul to the line. The game was sealed in the road team’s favor as the Trail Blazers fell 100-94.
Notes
- Aldridge scored an incredible 37 points, but it took too much of his energy to get there. His extended rest to start the fourth quarter was a problem for the Trail Blazers, who needed so desperately to hold on. Even upon reentering the game, Aldridge appeared spent. He played a team high 38 minutes of mostly ISO on offense.
- Leonard once again made more shots than he missed, and once again finished with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds). He is proving to be a viable option off the bench.
- The Trail Blazers struggled mightily to get through high screens. Paul fed on open mid-range jumpers as Portland’s guards were frequently hampered by Jordan’s big body.
- Perhaps most concerning was the lack of scoring from Portland’s wings. Matthews (3-13) and Nicolas Batum (0-5) combined for just 12 points when the Trail Blazers needed someone not named “Aldridge” to get hot.
They now get one day off before hitting the road to take on the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies in what is sure to be a difficult back-to-back.