LA Clippers Close In on Playoff Spot With Win Over Portland Trail Blazers

• The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday
• The Clippers recorded the comeback win after a solid third-quarter performance
• Kawhi Leonard starred for the Clippers, who closed in on a playoff spot in the West

The Los Angeles Clippers bolstered their hopes of avoiding the play-in tournament with a 136-125 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

Five players scored in double figures for the Clippers, who hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference with a 43-38 record.

They have won four of their last six games.

Balanced attack for Clippers

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Clippers with 27 points, per ESPN. He shot 7 of 17 from the field and made all ten free throws.

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Russell Westbrook and Ivica Zubac were the other starters to score in double digits, dropping 20 and 14 points, respectively.

Norman Powell provided the firepower off the bench, scoring 23 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the floor. He also had five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 27 minutes of action.

Blazers provide tough test

The win did not come easy for the Clippers, who trailed the Blazers by six points at halftime. They showed some urgency in the third quarter, outscoring Portland 45-26.

Leonard was instrumental in that surge, scoring 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter. The Clippers lineup was on fire during that stretch, shooting 15 of 24 from the field and knocking down eight 3-pointers.

Clippers target win over Suns

The Clippers need a victory against the Suns on Sunday to avoid landing in the play-in tournament for the second consecutive year.

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Coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t want a repeat of that painful exit. He said that his main focus is doing what they "have to do to get into the playoffs, and it doesn't matter what seed."

Westbrook makes history

Sports Brief recently reported on the Clippers' win over the Grizzlies.

Russell Westbrook finished with 36 points, ten assists, four rebounds, and two blocks.

He became the first player in Clippers' history to record at least 35 points, ten assists, and two blocks in a single game.