Blazers snap 7-game skid with 102-91 win over Clippers

Damian Lillard scored 27 points during a 102-91 win over the Clippers on Friday, adding four rebounds, seven assists, one steal and four 3-pointers in 38 minutes.

Lillard’s three-pointer with 3½ minutes left gave Portland a 90-85 lead. Blake Griffin answered with a basket on the opposite finish, still Lillard nailed another Three after which pointed to his wrist as if to signal it was his time. Mason Plumlee (18 points, 10 rebounds), Al-Farouq Aminu (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Ed Davis (17 points, 15 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles in the win.

The Clippers don’t have much time to lick their wounds after blowing a 23-point lead against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday to lose, 124-117. Jamal Crawford made five 3-pointers and finished with 20. Veteran forward Paul Pierce was given the night off to rest and backup point guard Pablo Prigioni was back at the team hotel with flu symptoms.

Raptors 102, Lakers 91: LOS ANGELES – Kyle Lowry had 25 points, DeMar DeRozan scored seven of his 18 in the final 3:34, and Toronto beat Los Angeles to snap a three-game skid.

“We know what we’re capable of and we’re not finishing games right now”, said Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who had a quiet 11 points to go with eight assists. J.J. Redick returned from back spasms after missing three games and scored all seven of his points on the night in the first quarter, and he said the long-range shots the Clippers are allowing late can’t keep happening. Luckily for the Clippers, the injury wasn’t severe, as Griffin returned in the second quarter with a sleeve on his leg and the Clippers nursing a small lead, which would disappear later in the quarter.

Paul had averaged 29.3 points in his past six games against the Blazers. Lillard’s back-to-back three-pointers extended their lead to 93-87. The Clippers must have felt that they had the game all locked up after three quarters but the Warriors just flipped a switch and shut out the Clippers with a 22-5 run to close out the game.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers did not seem overly troubled, cheerfully whistling as he rounded a corner to speak with reporters after the game. Davis’ 10 offensive rebounds equaled the Clippers’ total on the offensive glass. I thought we had a chance early on to get up big, and they kept getting second shots.