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Reggie Jackson scored 16 points and Luke Kennard had 15 in his
first start of the season as the Clippers continue to search for
productive combinations while they forge ahead without star
Kawhi Leonard following his offseason knee surgery.
The Clippers won for just the fourth time in their past 11
games.
Jusuf Nurkic scored a season-high 31 points for the Trail
Blazers, while Norman Powell scored 29 points in a lead guard
role. Powell's responsibilities were increased on a night when
Portland was without Damian Lillard (abdomen) and CJ McCollum
(ribs).
Dennis Smith Jr. scored 13 points for the Blazers in just his
second start of the season, while Tony Snell had just four
points in his third start.
One game after giving up 145 points in a home loss to the Boston
Celtics, Portland was much better on defense, although the
result was the same. The Clippers won despite shooting just 30.6
percent from 3-point range, while the Blazers fared worse,
finishing at 22.7 percent from long distance.
Portland was just 1 of 11 from the field to open the fourth
quarter but still was within 90-88 with less than three minutes
to play and had the ball to tie or take the lead. After the
Blazers' Robert Covington missed 3-point attempt, George drove
the lane for a dunk and a 92-88 Clippers advantage with 2:30 to
go.
George then scored from 18 feet with 1:59 remaining for a 94-88
lead, while Nurkic was assessed a flagrant foul on the play when
he elbowed Los Angeles' Isaiah Hartenstein in the chin.
Hartenstein made a free throw for a 95-88 advantage, and he
delivered a dunk for a 97-88 lead with 1:47 remaining after the
ball was returned to the Clippers.
Los Angeles rookie Brandon Boston Jr. matched a season high with
13 points. Covington had 10 rebounds for Portland.
--Field Level Media
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