It was the biggest game of the season for both Portland and LA.
In what was the biggest game of the season for both the Portland Trail Blazers and the LA Clippers, Portland came out on top in a big way Friday night, winning 116-97. It was an emphatic win that set the tone for playoff positioning and what could be a magical run for the Blazers over the next couple of weeks.
This game had its swings, but Portland established control early. The Blazers came out sharp in the first quarter, took a 10-point lead into halftime, then saw the Clippers make a push in the third before Portland completely took over in the fourth. A 30-13 final quarter turned a competitive game into a statement win.
The significance is obvious. Portland now controls its own destiny for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. If the Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, they will lock up that spot and put themselves in position to host the No. 9 seed in the Play-In Tournament. That is a huge advantage because it would give Portland two chances to earn a playoff berth.
The hero of the night was, once again, Deni Avdija, who finished with 35 points. Donovan Clingan dominated inside with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Robert Williams III delivered one of his best games in recent memory with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Kris Murray added 10 points, and from there it was a balanced effort from the rest of the roster.
Portland was better across the board. The Blazers dominated the glass, moved the ball well, shot better from the field, and lived at the free throw line. They led for most of the night, controlled the tempo, and never let the Clippers fully seize momentum even when LA made its third-quarter push. By the end, it was just a more complete and more physical performance from Portland in the biggest moment of the season.
Now the focus shifts to Sunday’s regular season finale against Sacramento. If the Blazers take care of business there, it will put a bow on an impressive regular season and give them the No. 8 seed heading into the Play-In Tournament, which is exactly where this team wants to be with the way it is playing right now.