LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 102-87 Monday night at Staples Center.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan set a franchise record for foul shots, attempting 34 and making only 12. Jordan finished with 18 points and 24 rebounds as the Clippers (10-8) won their third in a row. Guard J.J. Redick chipped in 14 points for Los Angeles.
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.
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 strategy failed.
The Trail Blazers lost point guard Damian Lillard less than two minutes into the third quarter due to abdominal pain. Lillard did not return. He finished with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting and no assists in 17 minutes.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul also left the contest in the third with a rib muscle strain. He didn’t return either, finishing with 10 points and six assists in 24 minutes.
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.
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.