NOTHING EASY FOR CLIPPERS THEY STRUGGLE, BUT GET VICTORY CLIPPERS 97, PORTLAND 93.Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer If the Clippers are using their final games to measure how they will fare in the playoffs, their season could be over shortly after the postseason starts. Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, they could have had an easy victory served to them against a Portland Trail Blazer team that has the worst record in the Western Conference and has won only three games since the All-Star break. Instead, the Clippers struggled for most of the game, but still managed to walk away with a 97-93 victory at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . Portland never led in the fourth quarter, but stayed close in a contest that featured 17 lead changes. The Clippers went up 83-76 with 6:43 left on a jump shot by Sam Cassell Samuel (Sam) James Cassell (born November 18, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. for their biggest lead of the game, but Portland hung around and pulled to 88-85 with 2:49 left when Viktor Khryapa Viktor Khryapa (pronounced Veek-tor Ha-RAP-ah in American English[1]) (born August 3, 1982, in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (present-day Ukraine)) is a Russian professional basketball player in the NBA. hit a jumper. Cuttino Mobley Cuttino Rashawn Mobley (born September 1, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. responded with a jump shot with 2:25 left, and after that, Portland stayed close, but never had a possession to tie it. In a season of frequent milestones, the Clippers hit another one. It was their 45th win of the season, tying the 1991-92 squad for the most victories in Clipper history. Another so-called milestone came with sweeping Portland for the first time in franchise history. They Clippers hadn't won a season series against the Blazers since the 1973-74 season, when they were the Buffalo Braves. Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. typically was double-teamed by the Blazers and finished with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. Cassell added 19 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Reserve guard Jarrett Jack Jarrett Matthew Jack (born October 28, 1983 in Fort Washington, Maryland) is a basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Before being selected in the 2005 NBA Draft, he attended and played for Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. led Portland with 20 points and seven assists as the Blazers lost a fourth straight game. joe.stevens@presstelegram.com (562) 499-1338 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Clippers' Elton Brand launches a jump shot over Portland's Theo Ratliff Theophilus Curtis Ratliff (born April 17, 1973 in Demopolis, Alabama) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. He primarily plays the center position, and is known as an excellent shot-blocker. . Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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