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Griffin Buzzer Beater Gets Clippers Close Win

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Taking on the guard tandem of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is always a tough task. Even with one of the best defensive guards in the league the Los Angeles Clippers knew they were in for a tough matchup Thursday at the Moda Center in Portland. That’s exactly what they got.

Coming in to this one with a 3-1 record the Trailblazers figured to make life difficult for Clippers guards Pat Beverly and Austin Rivers. But it wasn’t just Lillard and McCollum that put the Clippers against the ropes. It was actually a hustle stat that left Los Angeles fighting until the end, offensive rebounds. Blazers bigs Jusuf Nurkic and Ed Davis crashed the glass well all night but Davis was a pest on the offensive end nabbing up 7 offensive rebounds. Total Portland was able to get an alarming 16 board on the offensive end alone.

It can be tough to win when you’re allowing the opposing team that many second chances but it can be even tougher when they’re draining threes like they’re layups. Former Clipper Al Farouq Aminu shot an astounding 5-8 from beyond the arc again having a monster game against his former team. Of course Aminu wasn’t alone in peppering the basket from long range. Lillard drained a couple from way downtown and reminded fans of that in the gym range he possess. Lillard closed this one with 25 going 4-9 from three.

Though Los Angeles wasn’t dropping bombs quite like Portland, they definitely found their own ways to put the ball in the bucket. Despite having a poor game from the free throw line, Blake Griffin stepped up in the fourth quarter and showed some of those leadership characteristics fans were hoping to see with him in charge this season. Griffin closed out this game with an impressive stat line of 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Griffin only had 9 points coming into the fourth quarter. He also would knock down the shot of the game but we’ll get to that in a little bit.

Danilo Gallinari proved he can step up when needed as well. Showing aggressiveness and getting to the hoop to draw fouls seemed to be his favorite method of getting after this Portland defense. Gallo was 8-8 from the free throw line and finished with 16 points on the night.

Meanwhile DeAndre Jordan was doing what he always does, cleaning the glass. Jordan had a game-high 18 rebounds to go with just 7 points.

The two teams traded the lead back and forth until the very end and it would be a buzzer beating three by none other than Blake Griffin to win it for the Clippers!

A great 104-103 win for Los Angeles in a hard fought contest.

The Clippers will go back to Staples Center Saturday to take on the 3-2 Detroit Pistons.

Thanks for following along Clippers fans, let’s see if we can keep the undefeated season going Saturday.

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