Blazers Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Clippers Amid Turmoil and Star Power
The Portland Trail Blazers are back in action tonight, hosting the Los Angeles Clippers in the second game of their five-game homestand. After a pair of gut-wrenching losses, the Blazers are eager to get back in the win column-and they’ll have a prime opportunity to do so against a Clippers team that’s been stumbling through a season marked by inconsistency, internal strife, and a whole lot of questions.
Clippers in Crisis Mode
Coming into the season, the Clippers were a team with big names and bigger expectations-but also plenty of question marks. Fast forward 29 games, and those questions have turned into full-blown red flags. At 8-21, Los Angeles sits near the bottom of the Western Conference, and it’s not just injuries that have derailed their campaign.
The team parted ways with Chris Paul midseason following reported clashes with coaches and teammates, hoping a change in leadership might right the ship. It didn’t. The problems run deeper than any one player, and the Clippers are still searching for stability as the losses pile up.
But even amid the chaos, there are constants. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden remain elite-level talents, capable of taking over games on any given night. And with Ivica Zubac sidelined and Bradley Beal out for the season, the Clippers will lean even more heavily on their two stars to carry the load.
Blazers Leaning Into Their Identity
Portland, meanwhile, has had its own ups and downs, but the team continues to show flashes of the identity it built early in the season-pushing the pace, taking a high volume of shots, and relying on depth to wear opponents down. Earlier in the year, the Blazers were leading the league in field goal attempts by a wide margin, using sheer volume to overcome middling efficiency.
That edge has narrowed a bit-they’re still fifth in the NBA at 91 shots per game, but now just two attempts above league average. Still, that’s a stark contrast to a Clippers squad that ranks 29th in field goal attempts. Leonard’s surgical efficiency has helped keep L.A. afloat offensively, but their slow pace and limited shot volume remain a vulnerability.
Portland will try to exploit that again tonight, just as they did in their first meeting with the Clippers. Expect them to go deep into the bench, with players like Rayan Rupert and Yang Hansen getting spot minutes to keep the tempo high and the legs fresh.
What to Watch Tonight
Revenge Game Energy
The Blazers are coming off two straight heartbreakers-close losses to Detroit and Orlando where late-game execution let them down.
The message tonight? Don’t wait until the fourth quarter to start playing your best basketball.
If Portland can avoid digging themselves into another early hole, they’ll be in a strong position to capitalize on the Clippers’ current disarray.
Kawhi Being Kawhi
Let’s be clear: Kawhi Leonard is still a problem for any defense.
In the Clippers’ recent win over Houston, he dropped 41 points on a ridiculous 70% shooting clip. Over his last 10 games, he’s averaging 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting nearly 48% from the field and a jaw-dropping 98.1% from the free-throw line.
That’s not just efficient-that’s surgical.
For Portland, that means Toumani Camara and Kris Murray will have their hands full. If they can slow Kawhi down even a little, it could swing the game. If not, Leonard has the ability to single-handedly keep the Clippers in it.
Injury Report
Trail Blazers (12-18)
- Out: Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, Damian Lillard, Blake Wesley, Matisse Thybulle
- Day-to-day: Kris Murray, Robert Williams III
Clippers (8-21)
- Out: Derrick Jones Jr., Ivica Zubac, Bradley Beal
The Bigger Picture
Despite the record and the drama, the Clippers aren’t ready to throw in the towel. According to league sources, the front office has rejected any trade inquiries involving Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, or Ivica Zubac. With their 2026 first-round pick already committed to Oklahoma City, there’s little incentive to tank, and the belief internally is that the team could still make a push for the play-in once Derrick Jones Jr. returns.
Leonard, for his part, is still producing at an All-NBA level-averaging 25.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 48.7% from the field, 37.1% from deep, and an absurd 97.4% from the line. That’s the kind of production that keeps a team dangerous, no matter what the standings say.
Tip-Off Info
Matchup: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date: Friday, December 26
Time: 7:00 PM Pacific
Watch: Prime Video (streaming), local cable/antenna options available
The Blazers are looking to snap a two-game skid and rediscover the formula that made them such a tough out earlier in the season. The Clippers, meanwhile, are trying to salvage a season that’s been defined more by dysfunction than by wins. Something’s got to give.