The Blazers needed to win and have either the Nuggets or the Timberwolves lose in order to secure a playoff spot.
The Blazers beat the Clippers Friday, 105-96, at the Moda Center. They entered the game with a chance to guarantee a playoff spot. But both Minnesota and Denver won their games. So that will have to wait.
But the good news was that the Blazers won. Here’s how it went down.
Blazers First Half
Neither team scored until almost three minutes had elapsed in the first quarter.
And Portland didn’t score until 8:38 was left in the first.
CJ finally gets a shot to fall for the Blazers.#ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/skLgdgjlhk
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) March 31, 2018
With 2:22 left in the first, the Blazers were up, 21-19.
First quarter ended like this:
After 1Q: Blazers 26, Clippers 23
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 31, 2018
Blazers shooting 11/21 (52.4%) — but just 1/6 from three.
Nurk leads the Blazers with 8 points.
McCollum and Lillard with 7 points each.#RipCity
In the second quarter, Portland took a six-point lead, 37-32, thanks to the Zach and Ed show: passing, rebounding and dunking.
GO GET IT @ZCOLLINS_33 pic.twitter.com/W3kxVQfknM
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 31, 2018
It was a beautiful thing. Everybody got in on a little Zachmania.
Davis cleans up the glass, finds Collins for the slam! #ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/mPKnUuyoPC
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) March 31, 2018
Portland went on a 21-5 run to take a 16-point lead, 51-35.
At the half, it was 64-49 Blazers.
At the half, it's 64-49 Blazers. Dame with 14, Nurk and Zach with 13 each.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 31, 2018
All those dunks pushed Portland's shooting up to 55%.
Blazers also have 17 assists.#RipCity
Blazers Second Half
Early in the third quarter, the Blazers got out to a 77-54 lead.
We're feeling pretty happy about the Blazers' defensive effort tonight, among other things. #RipCity
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 31, 2018
And they played so well into the fourth that Collins, Caleb Swanigan, Shabazz Napier and Pat Connaughton all got significant playing time. This was mostly due to Davis being out with a twisted ankle.
Blazers announce Ed Davis has a sprained right ankle & will not return to game v Clippers #RipCity
— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) March 31, 2018
The Clippers did go on a run to get kinda close.
Clippers on an 11-0 run, pull within 12 points. #RipCity
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 31, 2018
Next: Blazers loss in Memphis is just a bump on the road to awesome
But Portland kept LAC from getting too close and ultimately won the contest by a final score that was closer than the game really was.
Career high in scoring for Collins.
Some stats for ya'll via https://t.co/yAutR6t6Oc. #RipCity pic.twitter.com/jHxJWHz6dL
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 31, 2018
Next up: Sunday revenge game against the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies beat the Blazers last Wednesday. But that’s OK, as we argued here.
Hopefully Davis’ ankle sprain isn’t too serious. We all know how much we need that dude.