PORTLAND, Ore. — — Norman Powell scored 23 points, James Harden had 19 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-89 on Thursday night.
The Clippers routed Portland a night after beating Brooklyn at home by a franchise-record 59 points.
Dalano Banton led the Trail Blazers with 23 points. Scoot Henderson had 16 points.
Kobe Brown‘s dunk in the fourth pushed the Clippers to their biggest lead at 34.
Clippers: Clippers guard Norman Powell formed a special relationship with Blazers coach Chauncey Billups during Billups’ first season as Portland’s coach. With Powell averaging a career-high 23.7 points, Billups is loving what he’s seen from his former protege. “(I’m) really proud,” Billups said. “I didn’t get to coach him for that long, but we got very, very close in that short time. And he always shared with me that this is the player he could be.”
Blazers: Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe entered the game having scored 20 points in five straight games. Clippers coach Ty Lue came into the game aware of what Sharpe can do. “We’ve got to make it work. You know, he can do it all,” Lue said of Portland’s young guard. Sharpe finished with 12 points.
Ivica Zubac had two blocks on the same possession in the first half. The first block came on a dunk attempt by Scoot Henderson and the second came only seconds later when Deandre Ayton picked up the loose ball and tried a dunk of his own.
Portland’s Anfernee Simons went 0 for 9 from the field and failed to score.
The Clippers host the Lakers on Sunday night. The Trail Blazers host Houston on Saturday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
The Los Angeles Clippers dominated the Portland Trail Blazers in a 118-89 victory on January 16, 2025. The Clippers came out strong from the start, building a sizeable lead in the first quarter and never looking back.
Paul George led the charge for the Clippers with a game-high 27 points, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership on the court. Kawhi Leonard also had a strong performance, contributing 20 points and playing lockdown defense against the Blazers’ top scorers.
The Clippers’ bench also played a crucial role in the victory, with Marcus Morris and Terance Mann providing a much-needed spark off the bench. Morris finished with 15 points, while Mann added 12 points and showcased his versatility on both ends of the floor.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Damian Lillard, who is usually a scoring machine, was held to just 14 points on inefficient shooting. CJ McCollum tried to pick up the slack with 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Clippers’ stifling defense.
Overall, it was a dominant performance by the Clippers, showcasing their depth and talent on both ends of the floor. With this win, the Clippers improve their record and continue to solidify their position as one of the top teams in the league.
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Clippers vs Trail Blazers, Clippers victory, NBA game recap, Jan 16 2025, basketball highlights, game analysis, Clippers win, Trail Blazers defeat, player performance
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