{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
L.A. Clippers 102, Portland 90
When: 10:00 PM ET, Monday, December 6, 2021
Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Officials: #53 John Butler, #33 Sean Corbin, #46 Ben Taylor
Attendance: 15865

Paul George scored 21 points and Marcus Morris Sr. added 17 as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers pulled off a 102-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday in a battle of makeshift lineups.

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

Top Game Performances
 
L.A. Clippers   Portland
Paul George 21 Scoring Jusuf Nurkic 31
Reggie Jackson 6 Assists Dennis Smith Jr. 7
Paul George 8 Rebounds Robert Covington 10
Paul George 3 Free Throws Made Norman Powell 7
Paul George 4 Steals Robert Covington 3
Isaiah Hartenstein 4 Blocks Robert Covington 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
L.A. Clippers 102 44.6 11-36 9-14 18 37 7 8 13
Portland 90 44.3 5-22 15-20 16 45 6 6 18
Upcoming Games
  • Portland will play their next game on the road against Golden State. The Trail Blazers have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .429 after a loss.
  • L.A. Clippers will play their next game at home against Boston. The Clippers have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .538 after a loss.