Apr 16, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Will Barton (5) shoots the ball over Los Angeles Clippers center Ryan Hollins (15) during the fourth quarter of the game at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 110-104. Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
PORTLAND, Ore. — Before Wednesday’s regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts was asked if the meaningless game would be like a preseason matchup.
“It will be better than that,” he said.
The contest was more entertaining than maybe it had a right to be, considering all the regulars who took the night off.
Guard Will Barton came off the bench to compile a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Trail Blazers beat the Clippers 110-104 at the Moda Center.
Center Robin Lopez collected 15 points and nine rebounds in just 14 minutes, and forward Victor Claver chipped in 12 points — including eight straight in the final two minutes — and six rebounds for the Blazers, who enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
Portland, which won nine of its last 10 regular-season games, visits Houston on Sunday night for the series opener against the Rockets.
The Blazers finished 54-28, a 21-victory improvement from last season.
“I was on the other end of that last year,” Portland guard Wesley Matthews said. “We said before the season there was something special about this team. To get 54 (wins) after having 33 last season, and having been written off from the jump — we played with an edge all year. I’m proud of this group.”
Guard Jamal Crawford contributed 34 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 42 minutes for the Clippers, the No. 3 seed in the West. Los Angeles (57-25) plays host to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in a postseason series opener.
Forward Matt Barnes had 19 points and eight rebounds, and guard Darren Collison scored 19 points and dished out seven assists for the Clippers.
The Clippers were without starting guards Chris Paul and J.J. Redick as well as suspended forward Blake Griffin. Center DeAndre Jordan started, played 1:23, then departed for the night. The Blazers didn’t suit up forward LaMarcus Aldridge and reserve guard Mo Williams.
Portland led by 22 points in the second quarter and was still in front by 16 when the Clippers stormed back, capping a 17-0 run with Crawford’s four-point play midway through the third quarter. Moments later, Collison’s three-point play gave the visitors a 78-76 lead. The difference increased to 85-79 late in the quarter, with the Clippers — who outscored Portland 29-8 the last nine minutes of the quarter — carrying an 85-82 lead into the final period.
“That was a great third quarter,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “I wasn’t real happy with the way we played the first half, but the second half, guys came out focused.”
Los Angeles was in front 87-84 when Portland rebounded, using a 7-0 spurt to go on top 91-87.
Claver’s personal eight-point run — a three-point play, a 3-point shot and a put-back — gave the Blazers a 108-100 edge with 1:20 remaining, in effect wrapping things up.
“It’s good to end on a positive note,” Stotts said. “I was pleased with the way everybody played. The starters set the tone in the first quarter, and I was proud of the young guys who struggled through the third quarter when the offense didn’t click but hung in there.
“We’ve had a regular season we should all be proud of. Now the fun starts.”
NOTES: The Blazers became the fifth team in NBA history to have four players — C Robin Lopez, F Nicolas Batum, G Damian Lillard and G Wesley Matthews — start all 82 regular-season contests. … Lopez set a franchise record with 326 offensive rebounds. … Portland C/F Joel Freeland played for the first time since injuring a knee on Feb. 12, contributing six points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. … Clippers G Jamal Crawford, who missed 13 of the previous 21 games with a calf injury, shot 10-for-25 from the field and 11-for-11 from the foul line. “I had rustiness, and I had to get it off,” the 14-year veteran said. “I feel a lot better after playing those minutes.” … Portland’s 54 wins tied for sixth most in franchise history and the most since 2008-09 (also 54). … The Blazers finished the season shooting an NBA-best .815 from the foul line, a franchise record. They also established a franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season (770).
