Clippers 118-89 Trail Blazers (January 16, 2025) Game Summary

On By Littum

PORTLAND, Ore. — — Norman Powell scored 23 points, James Harden had 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-89 on Thursday night.

The Clippers routed Portland a night after beating Brooklyn at home with a franchise-record 59 points.

Dalano Banton led the Trail Blazers with 23 points. Scoot Henderson had 16 points.

Kobe Brown’s dunk in the fourth pushed the Clippers to their largest lead at 34.

Takeaways

Clippers: Clippers guard Norman Powell formed a special relationship with Blazers coach Chauncey Billups during Billups’ first season as Portland’s coach. With Powell averaging a career-high 23.7 points, Billups loves what he’s seen from his former protégé. “(I’m) really proud,” Billups said. “I didn’t get to train him that long, but we got very, very close in that short time. And he has always shared with me that this is the player he could be.”

Blazers: Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe entered the game after scoring 20 points in five straight games. Clippers coach Ty Lue came into the game aware of what Sharpe can do. “We’ve got to make it work. You know, he can do it all,” Lue said of Portland’s young guard. Sharpe finished with 12 points.

Key element

Ivica Zubac had two blocks on the same possession in the first half. The first block came on a dunk attempt by Scoot Henderson, and the second came just seconds later when Deandre Ayton picked up the loose ball and attempted a dunk of his own.

Key state

Portland’s Anfernee Simons went 0 for 9 from the field and failed to score.

Next

The Clippers host the Lakers on Sunday night. The Trail Blazers host Houston on Saturday night.

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AP NBA: