The Los Angeles Clippers rolled into Portland and left with a convincing 119-103 win, handing the Trail Blazers their third straight loss and putting a damper on any post-holiday momentum. James Harden led the charge with 34 points, but the real headline belonged to Brook Lopez, who turned back the clock in a big way.
Brook Lopez Steals the Spotlight
Let’s start with Lopez, who had himself a night. The veteran big man poured in 31 points, drilling 9 three-pointers on 14 attempts-yes, you read that right.
The Blazers’ defensive game plan focused heavily on doubling Harden and Kawhi Leonard, which left Lopez with room to operate, and he made Portland pay for it. When a guy who’s been in the league for this long catches fire like that, it’s not just a hot streak-it’s a statement.
Lopez made the most of the space created by the Clippers’ stars, punishing the Blazers from deep and stretching their defense to the breaking point. It was the kind of performance that reminds you just how valuable a floor-spacing big can be in today’s NBA.
Avdija Nearly Flirts with a Triple-Double
On the other side, Deni Avdija continued to be a bright spot in what’s been a tough stretch for Portland. He finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists-just one stat shy of a triple-double.
It was another well-rounded effort from the forward, who’s quietly becoming one of the more consistent contributors on this Blazers roster. But despite his near-triple-double, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Clippers’ firepower.
Shooting Splits Tell the Story
If you’re looking for the numbers that swung this game, start with the shooting splits. The Blazers actually shot a solid 41% from three, which is above their season average.
But the Clippers were simply better-50% from deep and a scorching 94% from the free-throw line. That’s elite efficiency, and it made the difference.
Portland came out of the gate with energy, knocking down early shots and keeping the game close. But as the night wore on, their shooting cooled off, and the Clippers kept their foot on the gas. That combination spelled trouble for the home team.
Star Power Took Over in the Second Half
There’s a reason the NBA is often called a stars’ league, and tonight was a perfect example of why. In the first half, Portland’s duo of Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe actually outscored Harden and Leonard, 29-21.
That’s a win in any coach’s book. But the second half?
That’s where things flipped.
Harden and Leonard came out of the locker room with purpose, turning up the intensity and putting their stamp on the game. By the final buzzer, the Clippers’ star duo had combined for 62 points, outpacing Avdija and Sharpe’s 45. When the game tightened up, L.A.’s veterans knew exactly when to take control.
Turnovers: Timing Over Totals
On paper, the turnover numbers don’t jump off the page-14 for Portland, 12 for Los Angeles. But this is one of those cases where the timing mattered more than the total.
The Blazers coughed up the ball in key moments, and the Clippers capitalized. In a game where the margin of error was slim early on, those miscues helped open the door for the Clippers to pull away.
What It Means Moving Forward
For the Clippers, this win reinforces what we already know-they’ve got the talent, the depth, and the shooting to be a serious threat when everything clicks. Harden’s scoring, Leonard’s steady presence, and Lopez’s unexpected outburst showed just how dangerous this team can be when the pieces fall into place.
As for the Blazers, this is another tough loss in a stretch that’s testing their resilience. Avdija’s development continues to be a silver lining, but they’ll need more consistent help around him if they want to snap this skid and get back on track.
Bottom line: the Clippers looked like a team ready to make noise, while the Blazers are still searching for the right formula. And on a night when experience and execution ruled, it was clear which team had the upper hand.