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The Portland Trail Blazers added another quality win to their early-season resume on Thursday night, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 116-105 for their eighth double-digit victory in 12 games.
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 48 points and the Blazers, winners of six of their last seven, beat the Clippers (6-5) for the fourth straight game.
Portland improved to 9-3 on the season and 4-1 on the current home stand.
TOP PERFORMERS
Lillard led the Blazers with a game-high 25 points on 11 of 25 shooting and 3 of 7 from three-point range, adding four points and four rebounds. McCollum, coming off a season-high 40 on Tuesday, scored 23 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Jusuf Nurkic nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, but fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Nurkic also had a game-high three blocks.
Al-Farouq Aminu finished with 11 points and eight rebounds and Zach Collins had 10 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.
Evan Turner scored seven points and dished out a team-high seven badists and Meyers Leonard had seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes.
The Clippers were led by 20 points apiece from Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams.
Clippers rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a career-high with 19 points and Tobias Harris logged his second straight double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Montrezl Harrell also had 19 for Los Angeles.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Lillard darted to the rim for an easy bucket to push Portland’s late lead to 11 points with 44 seconds remaining.
THEY SAID IT
“I think our time together, how good we get along together, our understanding of what our coaches want us to do, our understanding of each other, I think it’s all coming together. The time spent is really counting for us right now.” — Damian Lillard
YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS
The Blazers came just short of matching their season high for made free throws (28) on Thursday night, going 26 of 28 from the charity stripe. The parade to the line was a stark contrast from Tuesday night’s three-point heavy affair against the Milwaukee Bucks in which Portland attempted a season-low eight free throws. And while the Blazers lived at the line Thursday, they did so without their best free throw shooter in Lillard — who entered the game ranking sixth in percentage (93.8), fourth in attempts (81) and third in free throws made (76) — even registering a single attempt.
THIS AND THAT
Lillard, CJ and Nurkic scored the Blazers’ first 24 points. … Portland set a new season high for points in a first quarter this season with 37 on Thursday. … The Clippers’ bench, the highest-scoring second unit in the league, bested the Blazers’ reserves 43-41. … Portland won the rebounding battle 53-41. … The Blazer’s largest lead of the night was 13 points. … Portland doubled up LA 20-10 in second chance points behind 14 offensive rebounds. … The Blazers registered a season-low seven turnovers. … Lillard picked up his first technical foul of the season midway through the third quarter after wondering aloud about a non-call. … Moe Harkless missed his seventh consecutive game with left knee soreness.
NEXT UP
The Blazers wrap up their six-game home stand against the Boston Celtics (7-4) on Sunday. Boston has won three straight against Portland.
— Sean Meagher
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