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Chris Paul delivers in the clutch; Los Angeles Clippers edge out Portland Trail Blazers 98 – 97 – NBA Recap

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Chris Paul delivers in the clutch; Los Angeles Clippers edge out Portland Trail Blazers 98 – 97 – NBA Recap
The Los Angeles Clippers came away with a last gasp 98 – 97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night. The Clippers had to battle hard throughout the 48 minutes at the Staples Center and then needed Chris Paul to step up and carry them past the Trail
Blazers at the end.
Paul, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers just this season, delivered big time for his side, raking up 20 points, 14 assists and 4 steals in a terrific double-double performance. More importantly, the super star point guard gave the Clippers an outlet at
the end.
"I thought they might trap, but as I saw them go away, I saw an opportunity there and I just tried to attack and go to the rim." Paul said after the game.
Star forward Blake Griffin was also on song, recording a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds while Randy Foye also scored 20.
Caron Butler, DeAndre Jordan and Nick Young also made it into double figures for Los Angeles.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said it was a testament to the team’s growing chemistry and determination that they had managed such a dramatic victory.
"Early in the season, we might not have been able to gut that one out. We kept battling and found a way to get it done in the end."
J.J. Hickson put in a star shift for the Trail Blazers. Hickson scored a game high 29 points and also hauled down 13 rebounds. Nicolas Batum played his part with 18 points while Jamal Crawford came off the bench for 14.
The game started off evenly and both sides did well, neither getting ahead early. Then the Clippers managed to create some breathing space, going up 16 – 11, with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter. The Trail Blazers didn’t let them build on the lead though
and at the end of the period they were ahead at 23 – 18.
Portland had registered a 15 – 0 blitz early in the 2nd segment to get into a double digit lead, 35 – 25. Los Angeles fought back however, and a 7 – 0 spurt put them back up 41 – 39. It was the Clippers who ended the first half up 46 – 43.
After the break the status quo didn’t change much. Both sides played well offensively, while defensive performance was a little weak. The third frame saw them share 54 points, 27 apiece, and Clipper maintained their narrow advantage heading into the final
period, 73 – 70.
More jousting followed in the last quarter, the Trail Blazers ate away Clippers lead but weren’t able to take charge of affair. It all came down to the last few shots of the game, and when Chris Paul drove for a critical layup, making it 98 – 97, Portland
couldn’t find an answer.

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