Paul George and Kawhi Leonard combined for 51 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers (43-25) to a commanding 116-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers (19-50) on Wednesday night.
George led all-scorers with 27 points and six rebounds, while Leonard added 24 points, and James Harden contributed a double-double with 19 points and 14 assists. Ivica Zubac was close to double-double as he notched 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Clippers’ win not only extends their momentum but also solidifies their position as they maintain a one-game lead over the New Orleans Pelicans for the fourth seed in the highly competitive Western Conference playoff race.
Despite a spirited effort from Portland’s rookie Scoot Henderson (18 points) and Kris Murray (17 points), the Trail Blazers couldn’t contain the offensive firepower of the Clippers’ dynamic duo.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point as the Clippers capitalized on Portland’s defensive lapses, winning the period 34-20 to enter the final quarter with a 24-point lead.
