 L.A.'s Michael Olowokandi attempts a shot over Dale Davis. Sam Forencich NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
Wallace, an All-Star power forward and Portland's top scorer and rebounder last season, made just 1-of-6 shots through three quarters. Pippen, one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, was just 1-of-8 entering the final period.
"I thought we got open shots, but we just didn't have any rhythm to our shots," Pippen said.
As a result, the Trail Blazers fell behind by 14 points in the first half and still trailed 84-82 heading into the final 12 minutes before Wallace and Pippen took over.
Wallace had a blocked shot and forced a turnover, leading to a 3-pointer by Derek Anderson and a jumper by Pippen that began a 22-6 surge. Wallace and Pippen each had three baskets in the run that opened a 104-90 lead with 5:22 remaining.
"Our defense really stepped it up in the fourth quarter," said Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks.
"The thing for us was to just keep playing hard, keep our energy up," Pippen said. "We knew we were in the game. We knew it was just a matter of us executing a few plays and cutting down on our mistakes."
Anderson scored 26 points and Bonzi Wells added 24 for Portland, which shot 51 percent (44-of-86) and beat Los Angeles at home for the fifth straight time and 18th in the last 19 meetings in the City of Roses.
Running the point for the second straight game, Pippen had 11 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Continuing his season-long silence with the media, Wallace had nine points, eight boards and six assists.
"Scottie did a nice job again of running the point," Cheeks said.
"Scottie really controlled the game," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "He's one of the few guys in the league who doesn't have to score 20 points to control the game."
The Blazers also welcomed forward Ruben Patterson, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason but was making his debut after serving a five-game league suspension for pleading guilty to a sexual assault charge. Patterson had 16 points in 18 minutes.
"It feels really good being back," Patterson said. "I was anxious. I couldn't even sleep last night."
Elton Brand scored 25 points and Corey Maggette added 20 for the Clippers, who had won two in a row without suspended forward Lamar Odom but collapsed in the final period.
"I thought we played really well for three quarters," Gentry said. "I thought the fourth quarter was disastrous for us."
Maggette's 13 points staked Los Angeles to a 25-21 lead after one quarter and the Clippers widened the advantage to 48-34 on a 3-pointer by Quentin Richardson with 4:31 to play in the second period.
But Anderson and Patterson scored five points each as Portland closed to 54-52 at halftime.
In the fourth quarter, a hook by Wallace and a three-pointer by Pippen pushed the lead to 94-86 with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. Patterson had two free throws and a driving layup around two baskets by Wallace, building the advantage to 14 points.