Clippers-Trail Blazers Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jan 09 2012 1:04PM

The Portland Trail Blazers sound eager to get another chance to face the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Trail Blazers will be out to improve to 6-0 at home Tuesday night as they look to avenge an earlier loss this month to the Clippers.

Los Angeles (4-2) has won three straight starting with a 93-88 home victory over Portland (6-2) on Jan. 1. The Trail Blazers fell behind by 17 points after three quarters and came up short despite a 36-point fourth quarter.

"I think it's a game we feel we gave away," Portland forward Gerald Wallace said. "We understand what we have to do better now, especially playing at home so just have to take care of business."

Wallace was held scoreless for the only time this season, but he's been a much different player at home. He's averaging 21.2 points in Portland's 5-0 start at the Rose Garden compared to 4.7 on the road, and the Trail Blazers have won all six games when he's scored at least 10.

He had 16 points Sunday and Portland scored 28 off Cleveland's 24 turnovers in a 98-78 home win.

"We got some points off of our defense," coach Nate McMillan said. "When you start to see that ball go through the basket, normally NBA players start to play better defense."

This matchup will showcase the talents of star forwards LaMarcus Aldridge for Portland and Blake Griffin for Los Angeles. Griffin has yet to be held under 20 points this season, and the Blazers are 5-0 when Aldridge scores more than 20. They nearly finished with identical numbers in the first meeting, as Aldridge had 19 points and nine boards while Griffin had 20 and 10.

Los Angeles ended a five-game slide against Portland in that sloppy contest as each team had 21 turnovers. Raymond Felton had a season-high six for the Trail Blazers as he was outplayed by Chris Paul.

Paul had a season-low nine points in Saturday's 92-86 home win over Milwaukee. The Clippers limited the Bucks to 36.3 percent shooting - a season low for a Los Angeles opponent.

"I never go into a game saying I'm going to get 15 or 20 points," said Paul, who had seven assists. "I'm just going to take whatever the defense gives me."

Paul's scoring was not necessary since Griffin had 22 points and 14 boards, Caron Butler scored 20 and Chauncey Billups added 19 points.

"We have so many scorers and so many weapons that even if the ball doesn't go in sometimes, we'll still be able to score points," Griffin said. "As good as our new guys are, that's what makes that transition easier. Guys like Chauncey and Caron, because of how good they are and how hard they work and how much they love the game, it just flows a little bit better than it would otherwise."

Los Angeles has yet to outrebound an opponent, averaging an NBA-low 35.3 boards. The Clippers were outrebounded 42-37 on Saturday.

"We still struggled on the glass, which is frustrating but something we just have to keep working on," coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Both teams are starting back-to-back sets. The Trail Blazers will host Orlando on Wednesday while the Clippers will return home to play Miami.

Trail Blazers hold off Clippers, 105-97

By ANNE M. PETERSON
Posted Jan 11 2012 2:22AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Gerald Wallace, whose nickname "Crash" usually defines his on-court demeanor, managed to crack a smile when fans at the Rose Garden began chanting his name in the third quarter of Portland's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

Wallace scored 20 points, making a key 3-pointer with two minutes left, and the Blazers won 105-97 to avenge a loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles on New Year's Day. Wallace was held scoreless in that game.

"I think we were more mentally ready for them" he said. "We felt like we just let the game in L.A. get away, so we wanted to come out and jump on them from the start."

When the fans' chant was mentioned after the game, Wallace smiled again.

"They keep me amped," he said.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Blazers, who have not lost in six games at home this season.

Wallace's 3-pointer put the Blazers ahead 99-90, but the Clippers narrowed it to 100-97 after Chris Paul made a layup and Chauncey Billups hit a jumper and a free throw with 25 seconds left. Portland made free throws the rest of the way to preserve the win.

Portland has just two losses this season, including one to the Clippers at the Staples Center on Jan. 1.

Caron Butler had 20 points for Los Angeles, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Paul was limited by foul trouble, after collecting his fourth early in the third quarter, and finished with 11 points.

"It started with me," Paul said. "I came out and wasn't aggressive enough and got some unfortunate calls that didn't go our way, got in foul trouble. "But in the end we still had a chance, but we came up short."

Blake Griffin, who had just four points after the first half, finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles, which was coming off a 92-86 victory at home over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Veteran Marcus Camby had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, which defeated Cleveland 98-78 at the Rose Garden on Sunday night. It was his first double-double of the season.

Wallace got off to a quick start with nine points in the first quarter. His jumper at the halfway point gave Portland a 19-11 lead, but the Clippers closed the gap and went up 26-24 after Mo Williams hit a pair of jumpers.

Paul and Aldridge each got two early fouls and played limited minutes in the first half. Paul wound up with only 11 minutes after getting his third foul and was 0 for 3 from the field.

The Blazers took a 46-39 lead when Wesley Matthews robbed Griffin and lobbed the ball to Nicolas Batum for the jam. Portland was up 54-47 at the half.

The Blazers maintained the lead into the third quarter, but the Clippers kept it close. When Wallace hit a 3-pointer that put Portland ahead 67-60, Butler answered with one for the Clippers.

Griffin's hook and Billups' 3-pointer closed the Clippers within 82-80 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Blazers made four straight free throws and Billups missed a 3-point attempt.

Raymond Felton, who was 3 for 26 from 3-point range this season, hit one with 5:54 left to extend Portland's lead to 89-80.

The Blazers looked as if they had finally put it away with Wallace's 3-pointer, but the Clippers rallied again.

Coach Vinny Del Negro said the Clippers simply couldn't get ahead of Portland when it mattered.

"We would cut it (the lead) back, and then we would miss a couple of free throws, or we'd turn it over, or they'd get an easy one or a tip in," Del Negro said. "We gave up a couple of 3s in that left corner; we gave Wallace a 3 in front of our bench."

Billups finished with 19 points for the Clippers, while Matthews added 18 for the Blazers.

Earlier in the night, The Oregonian newspaper reported that Wallace is not currently seeking an extension for next season with the Blazers. But after the game, Wallace said he hasn't ruled out a return.

Notes: Earlier Tuesday, the Blazers recalled forward Luke Babbitt from the team's D-League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede. ... University of Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens attended the game. ... It was the first time this season that Griffin did not lead the Clippers in points. ... The Blazers are undefeated this season when Wallace scores 10 points or more. ... Paul suggested the fouls weren't all his fault: "There was some bogus stuff that was going on out there but it's part of the game. I know those guys and they flop on you, but it goes like that sometimes."

Notebook: Trail Blazers 105, Clippers 97

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:57AM

THE FACTS: All five starters scored in double figures as the Trail Blazers (7-2) avenged a Jan. 1 loss to the Clippers at Staples Center with a 105-97 victory Tuesday night. Gerald Wallace led the way with 20 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. Caron Butler (20 points) Chauncey Billups (19 points) and Blake Griffin (18 points, 12 rebounds) were the big producers for the Clippers (4-3).

QUOTABLE: "It was a tough game between two pretty good teams. We were more mentally ready than they were. We felt we let the game in L.A. get away, so we wanted to jump on them from the start, to take them out of their comfort zone on offense."
-- Portland's Gerald Wallace

THE STAT: Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge missed his first five shots and didn't score until a tip-in with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half. He got going then, though, and finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

TURNING POINT: Portland led just 100-97 after a three-point play by Billups with 25.9 seconds left. The Clippers had to foul, though, and Wesley Matthews knocked down a pair with 22.0 seconds to go, and the visitors were through scoring for the night.

QUOTABLE II: "We could never quite get over the hump. We would cut (the Blazers' lead) back, and then we would miss a couple of free throws or we'd turn it over, and they'd get an easy one or a tip-in."
-- Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro

HOT: The Blazers made their first five shots from the field and wound up shooting 51.4 percent for the game.

NOT: Chris Paul was 0-for-3 and went scoreless in a foul-plagued first half. The Clipper guard scored all 11 of his points in the second half.

QUOTABLE III: "I made good plays and bad plays, and I also hit free throws down the stretch. it happens. I'm not perfect. Try to be, but I'm not."
-- Portland guard Raymond Felton, who had two turnovers but also two steals and 4-for-6 on free throws over the 46 seconds.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Rob Mullens, University of Oregon's athletic director, watched from a suite seat.

GOOD MOVE: With the Blazers clinging to a 102-97 lead, Felton moved over to help on Griffin as he backed Marcus Camby to the basket. Felton picked the ball from Griffin as he went up for the shot, was fouled and made a free throw to all but seal the deal with 14.2 seconds to go.

BAD MOVE: Felton turned the ball over twice in a span of 16 seconds inside the final minute to keep the Clippers' faint hopes alive.

NOTABLE: Portland is 6-0 at home and 1-2 on the road this season. The Blazers have won 10 of their last 12 meetings with the Clippers.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, Wednesday vs. Orlando, Friday @ San Antonio, Saturday @ Houston. For the Clippers, Wednesday vs. Miami, Saturday vs. L.A. Lakers, Monday vs. New Jersey

• Clippers: Bledsoe
• Trail Blazers: Johnson, Oden

• Clippers: --
• Trail Blazers: Camby

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #38 Michael Smith, #73 Tre Maddox, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 20381
• Duration: 2:29