In the trough of the wave after two defeats in a row while having to digest the news of the prolonged absences of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers had found the forward march against the Pacers behind the huge game of Ivica Zubac. Last night, they confirmed against the Blazers by winning after a huge “comeback” in Portland (118-112).
The Clippers actually had an 18-point deficit in Portland, but, if it was well shaken, the Californian ship did not capsize. Behind an 18-3 in 4 minutes to come back up in the last quarter, and a huge Norman Powell (22 of his 32 points over the period), Ty Lue’s troupe made fun of his big buddy, Chauncey Billups.
While only one victory separated them on the balance sheets, the Clippers seemed clearly above the Blazers at the end of the game. When the former found their cruising speed, the latter had nothing left in their legs…
In full descent, Portland will have to pull itself together quickly with a “back to back” which presents itself this night, in Los Angeles, to face the other team of the city, the Lakers.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The last quarter of the Clippers. It’s the perfect heist! From -18 in the second half to victory, the Clippers managed their boat perfectly, thanks in particular to a scathing 36-17 instigated by the inevitable Norm Powell. Faced with his former teammates, this last player was cold as a blade, easily cutting the defensive curtains of the Blazers defense (far too soft) at the end of the game. On his own, he will have scored more than the entire Portland team!
– The Blazers crack at the end. Now on a series of six defeats in their last seven games, the Blazers are clearly falling into line after their very good start to the season. Without Damian Lillard, Portland is seriously starting to stall with a tiring hierarchy. Apart from Grant (10 points), the Blazers will have scored only 7 points in all and for all in the last quarter…
– Moussa Diabaté comes out of the woods. Called up from the G-League to lend a hand to Ivica Zubac in the paint, the French rookie made headlines with a great performance in the last quarter. If his stats remain modest at 3 points, 4 rebounds, the former Michigan was invaluable in keeping the California dynamic, with a counter on Simons in particular and his aggressiveness on the rebound.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Norman Powell. The Clippers guard played a nasty trick on his former team by scoring 22 of his 32 points in the last quarter. It was thanks to him that LA managed to turn the tide in a one-sided fourth quarter.
✅ Jerami Grant. If he scored 10 points in a row in the last quarter, he also had to go out for six fouls after an attempted layup which turned into a forceful passage. Option n°1 in attack, Jerami Grant assumed with 32 points, but it was not enough.
✅ Anfernee Simons. Exploding from the start for 15 points in the first quarter, he had a more complicated end to the match, eaten up by Powell on his defensive duels, and pushed back against by Diabaté then Batum on shots at the very end of the match. Nevertheless, the back still finishes at 37 points with very good percentages.
⛔ Marcus Morris. The veteran interior went through his match with only 8 points at 3/13 on shots including a 3-point bubble (0/5). But he still scored an important basket in the last Californian rush, also happy with the performance of his rookie Diabaté with an affectionate head to head at the end of the match.
THE FOLLOWING
LA Clippers (13-9) : next game in Salt Lake City tonight.
Portland (11-10): trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers tonight.
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