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 "It's just more practice," the Los Angeles center said of misfiring
at the line during the Clippers' 102-87 win over the Portland Trail
Blazers on Monday night at Staples Center.
Forward Blake Griffin had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists
to lead the Clippers.
Jordan set a franchise record for foul shots, attempting 34 and
making only 12. Jordan also tied Wilt Chamberlain's NBA mark for the
most misses in a game. Jordan finished with 18 points and a
season-high 24 rebounds as the Clippers (10-8) won their third in a
row. Guard J.J. Redick chipped in 14 points for Los Angeles.
"Obviously, (fouling Jordan), disrupted the flow," said Griffin, who
scored 15 of his points in the first half. "I don't know exactly how
much we were up when they started, but the great thing about it was
that we were getting one point every time and we were stopping them
on their end."
Clippers coach Doc Rivers had a mixed reaction to the foul strategy.
"I guess it does hurt the game, clearly," Rivers said. "I'm not in
favor of changing the rule. Some days I am; today I was. It's just a
tough one."
Forwards Maurice Harkless and Ed Davis came off the bench to score
15 and 13 points, respectively, for Portland (7-11). Guard CJ
McCollum had 12 points, and center Mason Plumlee added 10 points and
13 rebounds.
"It was a struggle for us to score all night," Portland coach Terry
Stotts said. "After being down, it was a really good second quarter,
and we were able to create some offense. But we struggled on the
offensive end the whole night. We didn't shoot the ball well, and we
had some turnovers at the end, and that was the main problem."
After the Trail Blazers closed to within 77-70 on a bucket by
forward Meyers Leonard, the Clippers answered with a 15-6 run for a
92-76 lead after a 3-pointer by Redick with 4:28 remaining.
Portland tried to rally by consistently hacking Jordan, who shot 18
free throws in the fourth quarter alone, making eight. However, the
plan failed.
"I thought when (Jordan) missed them we would have the chance to go
down and score, but we were not able to capitalize on it," Stotts
said.
The Trail Blazers lost point guard Damian Lillard less than two
minutes into the third quarter due to abdominal pain. Lillard did
not return.
Lillard believed his illness was connected with something he ate.
"Since the game started, I felt dead, had no energy and was weak,"
said Lillard, who finished with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting and
no assists in 17 minutes. "I tried to play through it to see if I
could get myself going. I had never felt like that, turning and
running in different directions, I wasn't comfortable."
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Clippers point guard Chris Paul also left the contest in the third
quarter with a rib muscle strain. He didn't return either, finishing
with 10 points and six assists in 24 minutes. Rivers said Paul would
be re-evaluated Tuesday.
Despite Paul's exit, the Clippers took advantage of Lillard's
absence. A 3-pointer by guard Jamal Crawford, who scored 11 points,
gave Los Angeles a 74-64 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Clippers outscored the Trail Blazers 25-15 in the third.
The Clippers led by as much as 15 in the first quarter before
Portland launched a rally in the second. The Trail Blazers went on a
15-0 run midway in the second quarter to take a 38-35 lead after a
jumper by Harkless.
A trey by McCollum with two seconds remaining tied the score at 49
at the break.
The Clippers outrebounded an opponent for the first time this
season, edging Portland 55-54.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers on G/F Kobe Bryant's retirement
announcement: "I know I'd like to take something from him. The 2010
(NBA championship) ring," joked Rivers, whose Boston Celtics lost to
the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals that season. ... Portland is
4-0 when G Damian Lillard and G CJ McCollum combine for 50 or more
points. ... Los Angeles F Blake Griffin led the league in 2-point
field goals heading into Monday's game with 168 to 143 for Cleveland
Cavaliers F LeBron James. ... The Clippers recalled G C.J. Wilcox
and F Branden Dawson from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development
League, but both were inactive. ... The Trail Blazers host the
Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, while the Clippers play the Indiana
Pacers at Staples Center on Wednesday. Clippers F Lance Stephenson
will face his former club for the first time.
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