The Portland Trail Blazers needed to have a short memory tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, as they lost to this same team by 30 just four days ago.
The Blazers did just that. Despite a slow start, they led by eight going into the intermission, thanks to a combination of active defense and a major cold streak from the Clippers deep shooters. Regardless, they capitalized on that half-time advantage and closed Los Angeles out, 111-92.
Portland has now evened the season series and can look to take the advantage soon, as the two teams meet again in less than two weeks.
Takeaways from the Portland Trail Blazers redemption game against the Los Angeles Clippers
Damian Lillard has looked more like himself in the last two games. He finished with 25 points and six assists, hitting five threes at a scorching 71 percent clip.
Dame’s rebound couldn’t come at a better time as CJ McCollum has struggled from the field in the last two contests. He finished with only 14 on 6-18 shooting, but continued to grind on defense and hit timely shots.
Paul George took full advantage of the Blazers lack of size and got whatever he wanted inside of the arc. He tallied 42 points, including six free throws and 3-pointers a piece.
Fast Break Notes:
- Damian Lillard is all the way back. Not only did his scoring pick up, especially from beyond the arc, that look was back in his eyes tonight. After hitting a couple of triples in the third quarter, Blazers home announcers Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd noted that Dame’s demeanor changed. In the same way a lion’s face might when he notices a gazelle too close to his vicinity. Lillard took a few “size-up” dribbles and the Clippers quickly sent a double-team his way, but Dame stepped through the trap and fired a skip pass to the opposite corner for an open CJ triple. Dame is all the way back.
- Jusuf Nurkic started slow this game after a pretty good showing against the Memphis Grizzlies. He battled on the boards, finishing with six offensive rebounds, but struggled to convert at the rim. One of his biggest knocks has always been his inability to finish strong at the cup. Nurkic has talked a big game about improving with a new head coach who trusts him, but has been pretty up-and-down this season. If he can finally become a reliable finisher, he’ll be on his way to becoming the Blazers much needed third star.
- Robert Covington went 3-3 from deep to start the game. He was moving his feet much better on the defensive end as well. Perhaps he just needed a few games to shake off the offseason rust or maybe he was dealing with a minor injury, but either way, it seems like he’s getting back into the swing of things.