George and Harden lead Clippers past Trail Blazers 116-103
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Paul George scored 27 points, James Harden had 19 points and 14 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 116-103 on Wednesday night.
The victory gave the Clippers a one-game lead over the New Orleans Pelicans for the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Scoot Henderson had 18 points and five assists for Portland and fellow rookie Kris Murray had a season-high 17 points.
The teams meet again Friday night in Portland to complete a two-game set.
The Clippers used a 34-point third quarter, which included 17 of Kawhi Leonard’s 24 points, to put the game out of reach.
After leading 60-50 at halftime, the Clippers took things into overdrive. Portland cut the Clippers’ lead to eight multiple times early in the third quarter before Los Angeles pushed the lead to 72-58, forcing a Blazers timeout.
Portland turned the ball over after the timeout on back-to-back possessions, including a 3-point play from Leonard, pushing the lead to 77-58.
“We got really good individuals on the defensive side and we put it together tonight,” George said. “We played good defense, we got stops, we got out and got some easy opportunities.
"Honestly, that’s when we are clicking and at our best - when we don’t have to come against a loaded defense every possession.”
The Blazers committed seven turnovers in the third quarter leading to 13 Clippers points.
“It was a lot of turnovers that led to points. That was the biggest thing. That was kind of all it is,” Murray said of Portland’s third-quarter struggles.
Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer pushed the lead to 84-60, forcing another timeout by Portland.
“We had a mindset of let’s get another run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of the Clippers' ability to extend leads. “Even though they called a timeout to stop the run, let’s be professional. I give our guys credit - tonight, they did that.”
The Clippers, whose largest lead was 27, outscored the Trail Blazers 34-20 in the third quarter.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 47-35 lead midway through the second quarter. Harden hit back-to-back 3-pointers to force a Blazers timeout with 6:04 left in the half.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Ivica Zubac vs. Deandre Ayton (Anfernee Simons gains possession) | ||
| 11:40 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:15 |  | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:11 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | Amir Coffey misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:04 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 10:58 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:53 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 10:45 | | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (bad pass) (Amir Coffey steals) | ||
| 10:21 | | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:18 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 10:06 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:02 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 9:59 | | Anfernee Simons personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 9:48 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:45 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 9:32 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 9:26 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point running layup | 2-2 |
| 9:07 | | +3 | Toumani Camara makes three point jump shot (Kris Murray assists) | 2-5 |
| 8:54 | | Deandre Ayton blocks Ivica Zubac's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | ||
| 8:46 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-7 |
| 8:22 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:20 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 8:12 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:08 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | James Harden misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:43 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point putback layup | 4-7 |
| 7:28 | | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 4-10 |
| 7:06 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point stepback jump shot | 6-10 |
| 6:53 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 6-12 |
| 6:31 | | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:27 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 6:19 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (bad pass) (Ivica Zubac steals) | ||
| 6:15 | | +2 | Amir Coffey makes two point running layup | 8-12 |
| 6:00 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:58 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 5:52 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 10-12 |
| 5:52 | | Scoot Henderson shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | ||
| 5:52 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:52 | | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-12 |
| 5:29 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:26 | | Clippers defensive rebound | ||
| 5:14 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point cutting dunk (James Harden assists) | 13-12 |
| 4:54 | | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point cutting layup (Deandre Ayton assists) | 13-14 |
| 4:40 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 16-14 |
| 4:25 | | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:18 | | Dalano Banton offensive rebound | ||
| 4:18 | | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point tip layup | 16-16 |
| 4:08 | | Jabari Walker personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 3:55 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point alley-oop layup (James Harden assists) | 18-16 |
| 3:39 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point turnaround hook shot (Kris Murray assists) | 18-18 |
| 3:39 | | James Harden shooting foul (Deandre Ayton draws the foul) | ||
| 3:39 | | Deandre Ayton misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 3:35 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 3:25 | | Bones Hyland misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:21 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:17 | | Ivica Zubac blocks Dalano Banton's two point running layup | ||
| 3:17 | | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | Jabari Walker personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | ||
| 2:56 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 20-18 |
| 2:44 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving finger roll layup | 20-20 |
| 2:33 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 22-20 |
| 2:15 | | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 22-23 |
| 1:49 | | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point stepback jump shot | 25-23 |
| 1:26 | | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot (Dalano Banton assists) | 25-26 |
| 1:02 | | Bones Hyland turnover (bad pass) (Jabari Walker steals) | ||
| 0:58 | | P.J. Tucker shooting foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:58 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 0:58 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-27 |
| 0:58 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-28 |
| 0:36 | | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point driving layup (Amir Coffey assists) | 27-28 |
| 0:33 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:28 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 0:19 | | Dalano Banton turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 0:06 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 0:04 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Kris Murray misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Bones Hyland defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:40 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 30-28 |
| 11:24 | | Jabari Walker turnover (lost ball) (P.J. Tucker steals) | ||
| 11:07 | | Bones Hyland misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:00 | | Bones Hyland personal foul (Jabari Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 11:00 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:50 | | +3 | Duop Reath makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 30-31 |
| 10:34 | | Paul George misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:31 | | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot | 33-31 |
| 10:12 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:10 | | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:59 | | Duop Reath defensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:41 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 36-31 |
| 9:02 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:59 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 8:51 | | +2 | Brandon Boston Jr. makes two point driving layup | 38-31 |
| 8:26 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:23 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Brandon Boston Jr. blocks Jabari Walker's two point putback layup | ||
| 8:22 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 8:05 | | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 41-31 |
| 7:45 | | +3 | Dalano Banton makes three point pullup jump shot | 41-34 |
| 7:27 | | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Scoot Henderson steals) | ||
| 7:25 | | Brandon Boston Jr. shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:25 | | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-35 |
| 7:25 | | Scoot Henderson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 7:22 | | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | ||
| 7:07 | | Daniel Theis misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | Kris Murray misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:55 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot (Paul George assists) | 44-35 |
| 6:20 | | Duop Reath misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:17 | | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot (Paul George assists) | 47-35 |
| 6:04 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:52 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:49 | | Brandon Boston Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:37 | | Toumani Camara personal foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | ||
| 5:24 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point turnaround hook shot (James Harden assists) | 49-35 |
| 5:08 | | Kris Murray turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | ||
| 5:04 | | +2 | Brandon Boston Jr. makes two point running alley-oop dunk (James Harden assists) | 51-35 |
| 4:50 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:48 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 4:31 | | Brandon Boston Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:29 | | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | ||
| 4:15 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 4:11 | | Kris Murray offensive rebound | ||
| 4:11 | | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point tip layup | 51-37 |
| 3:55 | | James Harden misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:52 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | Kris Murray turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:30 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 53-37 |
| 3:16 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving floating jump shot | 53-39 |
| 3:03 | | Kawhi Leonard turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 2:50 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving floating jump shot | 53-41 |
| 2:32 | | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | ||
| 2:28 | | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Dalano Banton assists) | 53-43 |
| 2:28 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:19 | | Kawhi Leonard turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 2:03 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point stepback jump shot | 53-46 |
| 1:43 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point turnaround hook shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 55-46 |
| 1:25 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving floating jump shot | 55-48 |
| 1:10 | | Kawhi Leonard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:58 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 0:54 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (lost ball) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | ||
| 0:45 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point turnaround hook shot (Paul George assists) | 57-48 |
| 0:30 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 57-50 |
| 0:10 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point stepback jump shot | 60-50 |
| 0:03 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:03 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |