The Los Angeles Clippers have finally found a rhythm - and not a moment too soon.
After a rocky start to the season that had them buried near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the Clippers are showing signs of life. On Friday night, they picked up their third straight win - a 119-103 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers - marking their first three-game win streak of the season. For a team that’s been battered by injuries and inconsistency, this stretch feels like a breath of fresh air.
Brook Lopez Turns Back the Clock
Let’s start with the obvious - Brook Lopez absolutely caught fire.
The veteran big man, pressed into a larger role with Ivica Zubac out due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain, delivered one of the most surprising and electric performances of the season. Lopez knocked down a career-high nine three-pointers, finishing 9-of-13 from deep and giving the Clippers a much-needed boost from the perimeter.
Kawhi Leonard didn’t mince words postgame, crediting Lopez’s hot hand as a key reason for the win.
“Making those 9 3s tonight. It's been a big emphasis for us, is just getting up more 3s, making more 3s, and he helped us out tonight with that,” Leonard said.
Lopez’s shooting wasn’t just a personal milestone - it was historic. At 36 years old, he became only the third player in NBA history to hit nine threes in a game after turning 37, joining Steph Curry and LeBron James in that exclusive club. Not bad company for a guy known more for rim protection than rainmaking.
The Stars Are Still the Stars
While Lopez stole the headlines, the Clippers’ core duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden continued to carry the load.
Leonard came into the night averaging 26.1 points per game, and Harden wasn’t far behind at 26.0 with 8.1 assists. They didn’t slow down in Portland. The two combined for 62 points, leading the offense with poise and purpose, especially in the second half when the Clippers took control.
Leonard, in particular, has been on a tear - this was his 12th straight game with 20 or more points. Harden, meanwhile, continues to orchestrate the offense with veteran savvy, mixing scoring and playmaking with the kind of control that’s made him a perennial All-Star.
And here's a wild stat: according to OptaStats, Lopez, Leonard, and Harden are now the first trio of teammates age 34 or older to each score 25+ points in the same game in NBA history. That’s not just impressive - it’s unprecedented.
Second-Half Statement
This one didn’t start easy. Portland came out with energy and aggression, taking a 62-56 lead into halftime. The Blazers pushed the pace and found ways to keep the Clippers off balance in the first 24 minutes.
But the second half? That was all Clippers.
Coming out of the locker room, Los Angeles flipped the switch - especially on the defensive end. They tightened up rotations, contested shots, and found a groove from beyond the arc.
The turning point came late in the third quarter, when the Clippers went on a 23-6 run to seize control of the game. It was the kind of stretch they haven’t been able to string together often this season - a mix of effort, execution, and urgency that’s been missing.
Leonard and Harden led the charge, but the supporting cast - including Lopez’s continued barrage from deep - made sure the Blazers never got back into it.
What’s Next
With the win, the Clippers improve to 9-21 - still far from where they want to be, but finally showing signs that they might be turning the corner. For a team that’s been riddled with setbacks and searching for identity, this three-game win streak feels like a foundation they can build on.
The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, drop to 12-19 and have now lost three straight. They came out swinging, but couldn’t match the Clippers’ second-half intensity.
It’s only one win - well, three in a row now - but for the Clippers, it’s a reminder of what this team can be when the shots fall, the stars shine, and the defense shows up. And if Brook Lopez is going to keep hitting threes like that? Watch out.