NBA Regular Season: Clippers Win by 29 Points, Leading Lakers by One Game to Consolidate Fifth Place; Harden Shows Off His Muscles in Three Quarters
The Los Angeles Clippers achieved a decisive victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with a 29-point margin, securing their fifth place in the Western Conference standings by leading the Los Angeles Lakers by one game. James Harden led the Clippers to dominate the Blazers, extending their lead to 32 points during the third quarter. Despite a comeback attempt by the Blazers, the Clippers maintained their advantage and ultimately won 118-89, securing their third consecutive victory. This win also ended the Clippers' four-game losing streak on the road, while the Blazers suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
Key Players and Statistics:
- Clippers: Leonard was rested and did not play. Harden played for three quarters, scoring 19 points and providing 6 assists despite shooting only 1 out of 8 from beyond the arc. Norman Powell contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Ivica Zubac added 10 points and 8 rebounds. The team had six players score in double figures.
- Blazers: Damian Lillard scored 16 points and provided 6 assists, Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Anfernee Simons contributed 23 points, and Josh Hart added 12 points.
The Clippers entered the game with a record of 22 wins and 17 losses in their first 39 games, having won their last two games against the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets. These victories allowed them to surpass the Lakers and move up to fifth place in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Blazers had a record of 13 wins and 26 losses, placing them third from the bottom in the West, and they had lost their last three games. In the two previous meetings this season, each team had won once.
In the first quarter, the Clippers quickly took a 12-5 lead through a multi-pronged attack, but the Blazers, led by Lillard, managed to close the gap to just two points. Harden's combination of scoring and passing helped the Clippers extend their lead, and they finished the first quarter with a 32-22 advantage.
In the second quarter, both teams experienced a drop in offensive efficiency, but the Clippers' strong defense limited the Blazers to only 16 points in the quarter. The Clippers started the quarter with a 38-22 lead and maintained a 21-point advantage at 47-26 with 6:30 remaining. The Blazers responded with a 12-5 run to cut the deficit, but the Clippers still outscored them 20-16 in the quarter, ending the half with a 52-38 lead. In the first half, the Clippers shot 4 out of 11 from three-point range, with Harden scoring 12 points and 3 assists (4 out of 11 overall, 0 out of 6 from three-point range) and Powell adding 13 points. The Blazers shot 3 out of 15 from three-point range, with Lillard scoring 14 points, Hart 12 points, and Ayton 10 points, while Simons went scoreless on 0 out of 6 shooting.
After halftime, the Clippers continued their momentum in the third quarter, starting with a 22-4 run in the first five minutes to extend their lead to 74-42, a massive 32-point advantage. The Blazers tried to rally with contributions from Simons, Hart, and Ayton, reducing the deficit to 23 points at 61-84. However, the Clippers maintained their lead, outscoring the Blazers 34-28 in the quarter and ending the third with an 86-66 lead. Both teams had hit only six three-pointers each in the first three quarters, with Harden leading the Clippers with 19 points and 6 assists, and five players in double figures. Lillard and Simons each scored 16 points to lead the Blazers, who had four players in double figures.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead, the Clippers quickly extended their advantage to 30 points at 100-70 with a 14-4 run in the first four minutes, led by Powell. With such a significant point difference, the game effectively entered garbage time, and the Clippers comfortably secured their victory, solidifying their position as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.