Norman Powell, Clippers stay red-hot at home, torch Blazers

On By Littum

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles ClippersDecember 3, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) moves the ball against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) in the first half at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Norman Powell scored 30 points and James Harden added 23 to go along with seven assists as the Los Angeles Clippers extended their home winning streak to nine games with a 127-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in Inglewood, Calif.

Amir Coffey scored 19 points, Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 and Ivica Zubac had 10 rebounds as the Clippers avenged one of their four consecutive home losses immediately after their new $2 billion arena opened.

Powell has averaged 29.0 points in two games since returning from a hamstring injury and has scored at least 30 in a game five times this season.

Deandre Ayton scored 16 points, while Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each added 15 for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the fourth time in their last five games overall and dropped for the seventh time in their last eight road games. Dalano Banton scored 14 points and Jerami Grant added 12 for Portland.

In the final NBA Cup group stage for both teams, the Blazers were eliminated from the knockout round with the loss, while the Clippers were bounced through tiebreaker scenarios.

Los Angeles looked like it would run away early by taking a double-digit lead before midway through the first quarter and leading by as many as 12 in the opening period. But Portland rallied to take the lead just over two minutes into the second quarter.

The Clippers led 63-58 at halftime, with the game close going into the third quarter until the hosts went on an 11-0 run to take an 83-70 lead. Los Angeles entered the final period with a 91-78 advantage after Harden scored 12 points in the third quarter.

The Clippers’ Jordan Miller scored five points during an 8-0 burst to open the final period as Los Angeles pushed its advantage to 99-78 with 10:03 left and cruised to victory from there. Miller finished with 14 points.

The Clippers were without Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) and lost Terance Mann (finger) in the third quarter. The Trail Blazers were without Scoot Henderson (quad), Donovan Clingan (knee) and Robert Williams III (concussion protocol).

— Field level media