The Los Angeles Clippers weren’t expected to see much action this season after a disastrous start that left them at the bottom of the Western Conference standings as one of the league’s most injured teams.
Starting the season without key players and experiencing setback after setback, expectations for this team have been low lately.
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However, they have shown signs of life and have now picked up a few wins to back that up.
Los Angeles won back-to-back games for the first time all season, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 119-103 on Friday night at Moda Center.
Despite the team’s rough start to the year, with a 9-21 record, the Clippers came out strong against a Portland team that has now lost three straight games.
After the game, star forward Kawhi Leonard pointed to his team’s three-point shooting as a major factor in the victory, highlighting Brook Lopez and his historic night.
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“Nine 3-pointers tonight. That was a big focus for us, just knocking down more 3-pointers, knocking down more 3-pointers, and he helped us with that tonight,” Leonard said.
Lopez’s nine 3-pointers tied a career high for the veteran center, who was thrust into a larger role with Ivica Zubac sidelined with a Grade 2 ankle sprain.
Brook Lopez also became the third player in NBA history after Stephen Curry and LeBron James to score nine three-pointers in a single game after the age of 37. Yes, this is real data from real Clippers games.
The 36-year-old big man performed well in just his second start of the season, giving Los Angeles the inside presence it needs.
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Leonard and James Harden continue to be the driving force behind the Clippers’ success this season.
Leonard averaged 26.1 points per game, while Harden contributed 26.0 points and 8.1 assists.
The two stars were outstanding again on Friday, leading the offense and keeping the Clippers in control for much of the second half.
They combined for 62 points on Friday night and played a big role in the Clippers’ lead in the final seconds.
James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Brook Lopez are the first trio in NBA history to score 25 or more points in the same game among teammates age 34 or older, according to OptaStats.
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Leonard has now scored 20 or more points in 12 consecutive games, while Harden continues to play offense at a high level despite his team’s struggles.
The Trail Blazers (12-19) put up a fight with the Clippers in the first half, using their speed and energy to tie the game at halftime, giving Portland a 62-56 lead.
But Los Angeles came out of the locker room with a goal, outscoring Portland in the second half and pulling away late.
The Clippers locked down defense and found a rhythm from beyond the arc, with Leonard and Harden leading the way in the third and fourth quarters.
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According to Amazon, they went on a 23-6 run in the third quarter, an avalanche of energy, focus and defensive intensity the Clippers had never seen this season.
With this victory, the Clippers improved to 9-21 this season, while the Trail Blazers fell to 12-19 and have now suffered three consecutive losses.
The Clippers will now return home for their fifth consecutive game at the Intuit Dome, hoping to build on this momentum and continue to move up the standings.