Clippers hold off short-handed Trail Blazers 132-127 for 4th straight win
LOS ANGELES (AP) Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 132-127 on Monday night for their fourth straight win.
Paul George had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Clippers, and James Harden added 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Ivica Zubac scored 18 as Los Angeles improved to 9-3 since a season-worst six-game skid.
Leonard has 75 points in his last two games.
“The biggest thing is health and finally getting his rhythm with PG and James starting,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
Portland was without Deandre Ayton, who missed his third straight game, and Malcolm Brogdon, who sat out his second in a row. Both have right knee soreness.
Anfernee Simons scored a season-high 38 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 27 for the Blazers, who fell to 0-8 against the West on the road.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game for us,” Lue said. “Defensively, we couldn't get stops. They scored every way.”
Simons was perfect at the free-throw line, making a career-high 13 in his fourth game of the season. He returned last week after missing 18 games with a ligament tear in his right thumb.
The Blazers made a season-high 19 3-pointers. Simons had five and Sharpe had four.
“We played good, man,” Blazers coach and former Clipper Chauncey Billups said. “We just keep scrapping no matter what.”
Sharpe's basket gave Portland its first lead of the fourth, 121-120, after trailing by six.
The teams traded one-point leads, with Terance Mann hitting a pair of free throws to put the Clippers ahead, 124-123. George scored and Leonard hit two more free throws for a five-point lead.
Simons got fouled by George and made both to pull the Blazers within three with 16 seconds left. Simons' dunk left Portland trailing 130-127 before George hit two free throws to seal the win.
“My team's in a good rhythm, that's all I care about,” Leonard said. “Tonight the ball found me and I made shots.”
The Clippers closed a high-scoring third on a 12-5 run that gave them a 105-99 lead.
The Blazers hit 10 3-pointers in the period, including five in a row to start, but never led by more than five points. Russell Westbrook scored seven straight in the Clippers' run that gave them back control.
Portland erased a double-digit deficit in the second and took its first lead on a basket by former Clipper Moses Brown that capped an 8-0 run. George's basket put the Clippers ahead 66-65 going into halftime.
The Clippers shot 79% in the first quarter, building a 14-point lead behind Zubac's 14 points.
HARDEN DUNKS
Harden threw down a one-handed dunk in the third, his first since joining the Clippers 1 1/2 months ago.
“Let's get this clear. I can still dunk,” the 34-year-old 10-time All-Star said. “I got guys who can do it better.”
HE SAID IT
“When you’re trying to build something, there’s going to be some pain in that. It’s not easy because I love to win everything I do.” - Billups.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host the Utah Jazz on Thursday to open a five-game homestand.
Clippers: Host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday to complete a back-to-back.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Duop Reath vs. Ivica Zubac (James Harden gains possession) | ||
| 11:40 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:22 |  | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-2 |
| 10:54 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-4 |
| 10:41 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point alley-oop layup (James Harden assists) | 2-6 |
| 10:14 | | +3 | Shaedon Sharpe makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 5-6 |
| 10:02 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (Paul George assists) | 5-8 |
| 9:46 | | +2 | Duop Reath makes two point layup | 7-8 |
| 9:38 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point alley-oop dunk (Terance Mann assists) | 7-10 |
| 9:19 | | Ivica Zubac blocks Anfernee Simons's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:16 | | Duop Reath offensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Paul George blocks Duop Reath's two point putback layup | ||
| 9:13 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 9:12 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point running layup (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 7-12 |
| 8:49 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:46 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 8:36 | | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | Duop Reath misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:12 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 8:07 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point cutting dunk (Terance Mann assists) | 7-14 |
| 8:06 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:43 | | Toumani Camara turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:28 | | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 7-17 |
| 7:17 | | Shaedon Sharpe turnover (lost ball) (James Harden steals) | ||
| 7:12 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point running finger roll layup (Paul George assists) | 7-19 |
| 6:54 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:54 | | Clippers defensive rebound | ||
| 6:54 | | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Loose ball) (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | ||
| 6:40 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (lost ball) (Jabari Walker steals) | ||
| 6:35 | | Matisse Thybulle misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:30 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 6:21 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point floating jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 7-21 |
| 6:14 | | Terance Mann personal foul (Toumani Camara draws the foul) | ||
| 6:05 | | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point pullup jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 9-21 |
| 5:54 | | Paul George misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:51 | | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point pullup jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 11-21 |
| 5:29 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point layup | ||
| 5:26 | | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | ||
| 5:25 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point putback layup | 11-23 |
| 5:09 | | +2 | Matisse Thybulle makes two point driving finger roll layup (Toumani Camara assists) | 13-23 |
| 4:53 | | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point driving reverse layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 13-25 |
| 4:42 | | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 15-25 |
| 4:30 | | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:26 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 4:26 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point tip layup | 15-27 |
| 4:18 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-27 |
| 4:18 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:57 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 3:54 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point running layup | 20-27 |
| 3:40 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 20-29 |
| 3:20 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:18 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 3:11 | | Paul George personal foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:00 | | Russell Westbrook shooting foul (Jabari Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Jabari Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-29 |
| 3:00 | | +1 | Jabari Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-29 |
| 2:49 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 22-31 |
| 2:33 | | +2 | Moses Brown makes two point cutting layup (Shaedon Sharpe assists) | 24-31 |
| 2:18 | | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 24-34 |
| 2:01 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:58 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 1:53 | | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | ||
| 1:41 | | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 24-37 |
| 1:15 | | Kawhi Leonard shooting foul (Anfernee Simons draws the foul) | ||
| 1:15 | | +1 | Anfernee Simons makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 25-37 |
| 1:15 | | +1 | Anfernee Simons makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 26-37 |
| 1:15 | | +1 | Anfernee Simons makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 27-37 |
| 1:04 | | Trail Blazers technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 1:04 | | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 27-38 |
| 0:57 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 27-40 |
| 0:43 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point stepback jump shot | 29-40 |
| 0:38 | | Scoot Henderson blocks Daniel Theis's two point cutting layup | ||
| 0:37 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:29 | | Norman Powell blocks Shaedon Sharpe's two point running layup | ||
| 0:27 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | +3 | Russell Westbrook makes three point jump shot (Norman Powell assists) | 29-43 |
| 0:00 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point stepback jump shot | 32-43 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:50 | | Norman Powell blocks Scoot Henderson's two point driving layup | ||
| 11:50 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:45 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point jump shot (Jabari Walker assists) | 35-43 |
| 11:45 | | Kobe Brown flagrant 1 (Anfernee Simons draws the foul) | ||
| 11:45 | | +1 | Anfernee Simons makes flagrant free throw 1 of 1 | 36-43 |
| 11:38 | | Duop Reath misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:32 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 11:32 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 11:18 | | +2 | Duop Reath makes two point turnaround hook shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 38-43 |
| 10:56 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 38-46 |
| 10:30 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving layup | 40-46 |
| 10:21 | | Duop Reath shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 10:21 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-47 |
| 10:21 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-48 |
| 10:08 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (lost ball) (Daniel Theis steals) | ||
| 10:02 | | Scoot Henderson blocks James Harden's two point running layup | ||
| 10:02 | | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | Daniel Theis personal foul (Anfernee Simons draws the foul) | ||
| 9:41 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot | 43-48 |
| 9:30 | | Jabari Walker personal foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | ||
| 9:20 | | Matisse Thybulle kicked ball violation | ||
| 9:10 | | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:08 | | Paul George offensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | Anfernee Simons blocks Daniel Theis's two point layup | ||
| 9:04 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:47 | | Kobe Brown misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:44 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 8:34 | | Duop Reath misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:33 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 8:30 | | Jabari Walker turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:14 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving hook shot | 43-50 |
| 8:05 | | Anfernee Simons misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:02 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 8:01 | | +2 | Jabari Walker makes two point putback layup | 45-50 |
| 7:50 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup (James Harden assists) | 45-52 |
| 7:35 | | +3 | Jabari Walker makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 48-52 |
| 7:19 | | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:17 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 7:10 | | James Harden blocks Duop Reath's two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 7:07 | | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 7:04 | | Norman Powell misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:03 | | Matisse Thybulle personal foul (Loose ball) (Terance Mann draws the foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:52 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:44 | | Moses Brown misses two point dunk | ||
| 6:40 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 6:29 | | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 48-55 |
| 6:17 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:17 | | Clippers defensive rebound | ||
| 6:01 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 5:58 | | Moses Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | Terance Mann shooting foul (Shaedon Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 5:44 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-55 |
| 5:44 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-55 |
| 5:23 | | James Harden misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:20 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:03 | | Scoot Henderson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:02 | | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Shaedon Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 5:02 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-55 |
| 5:02 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:57 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving floating jump shot (James Harden assists) | 51-57 |
| 4:39 | | Norman Powell shooting foul (Shaedon Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 4:39 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 52-57 |
| 4:39 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 53-57 |
| 4:26 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving floating jump shot (James Harden assists) | 53-59 |
| 4:15 | | Norman Powell shooting foul (Shaedon Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 4:15 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 54-59 |
| 4:15 | | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 55-59 |
| 4:15 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses regular free throw 3 of 3 | ||
| 4:14 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | Shaedon Sharpe turnover (bad pass) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | ||
| 3:50 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point pullup jump shot | 55-61 |
| 3:36 | |