Los Angeles Clippers began the season immersed in a sea of doubts caused by the undated absence of return of Kawhi Leonard, its great star. However, once the initial unknowns were shaken and the low of the forward assumed, the Angelenos have found the appropriate flight plan and have reached cruising speed as they demonstrated before the Portland Trail Blazers, to those who were imposed by 117-109, adding his fifth consecutive victory.
DATASHEET
- 117- Clippers: Batum (22), Zubac (11), Jackson (23), Bledsoe (11) y George (24); Winslow (2), Ibaka (-), Hartenstein (14), Mann (7), Kennard (3), Coffey (-) y Boston Jr (-).
- 109- Trail Blazers: Covington (6), Powell (23), Nurkic (15), Lillard (27) y McCollum (13); Nance Jr (5), Snell (3), Little (4), Zeller (8) y Simmons (5).
Paul George donned the MVP suit and assumed leadership of the ensemble of Tyronn Read in the absence of Leonard. Against the Blazers, the forward was once again the best of the Angelenos, touching the triple-double with 24 points (10 of 24 from the field and three of seven from the triple), nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal ball. George, moreover, was decisive in breaking the clash in the final moments with a 2 + 1 that clasped the triumph of the Seventh in the Western Conference.
The Angelenos who dominated the scoreboard for most of the game had up to six players scoring double digits with the veterans. Reggie Jackson (23) and Nicolas Batum (22) as George’s squires and with Isaiah Hartenstein contributing 14 points coming off the bench.
The Spanish international pivot Serge Ibaka He played his second consecutive game after missing more than five months of competition due to a back injury. The player of Congolese origin added his second consecutive victory after playing six minutes in which he captured three defensive rebounds and was left without scoring after missing the two field goals he tried.
For their part, the Blazers (5-6), who continue to show their most irregular face and do not finish finding their game pattern, were led by Damian Lillard with 27 points (four of 13 from the triple), five rebounds and six assists. Jusuf Nurkic was the best inside player of the clash and finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 catches under the hoops.