Deni Avdija scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and helped fuel a crucial run as the Portland Trail Blazers powered past the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, 116-97.
Portland (41-40) fell behind early in the fourth quarter of Friday’s clash, a pivotal matchup for positioning in the upcoming Western Conference play-in. Yet their rally left the Trail Blazers in the eighth slot in the West, pegged for the 7 vs. 8 game in the play-in, while the Clippers are now in the ninth slot. Each team has one game left in the regular season.
Kobe Sanders hit a jumper in the first minute of the period that gave Los Angeles (41-40) an edge after trailing by as many as 20 points in the first half.
The Clippers’ advantage was fleeting, however.
The Blazers answered with the next 11 points, holding Los Angeles without a field goal for almost seven minutes.
Brook Lopez’s 3-pointer ended the Clippers field-goal drought and moved Los Angeles to within six points with 4:36 remaining, but Portland unleashed another run of 10-0. Avdija capped the win-sealing spurt with a step-back 3-pointer, his only made triple of the night.
The Blazers struggled to connect from deep for much of the night, going 12 of 39. But successfully getting to the foul line for 30 made foul shots on 35 attempts and 24 points converted off of 17 Clippers turnovers helped Portland make up the difference.
Portland also dominated the glass with a 60-39 rebounding advantage. Both Donovan Clingan and reserve big man Robert Williams III recorded double-doubles, adding 18 and 13 points to go with their 13 and 10 rebounds.
Kris Murray came off the bench to add another seven rebounds and 10 points.
Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 24 points and eight rebounds. Lopez knocked down five of his 11 attempted 3-pointers on the way to 21 points, and Darius Garland finished with 16 points and seven assists.
Jordan Miller scored 15 points, accounting for most of the Clippers’ 21 bench contributions. Bennedict Mathurin was limited to just five minutes and went scoreless.
