The other options also are struggling as Josh Smith is averaging 5.2 points and shooting 37 percent and previous starter Lance Stephenson (5.6 average, 37.3 percent) didn’t even get into the game against the Warriors.ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (4-9): Star guard Damian Lillard is off to a torrid start and has scored 20 or more points in 12 of Portland’s 13 games.
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Paul opened the game shooting seven-for-seven from the field, scoring 18 points in eight minutes. The Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson scored 30 points for the second straight game.
The Clippers don’t have much time to lick their wounds after blowing a 23-point lead against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday to lose, 124-117.
The Portland Trail Blazers attempt to halt a seven-game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
The Clippers were within 90-87 with 3:15 left after a driving layup by Griffin, but a Lillard three-pointer and four consecutive points by Portland’s Mason Plumlee ended any hopes of a happy ending for the visitors. Crawford finished 5-of-8 from 3-point range, passing Chauncey Billups for seventh all-time in the National Basketball Association in 3-pointers.
Griffin departed the game late in the first quarter after experiencing soreness in his left knee, briefly returning to the locker room. Luckily for the Clippers, the injury wasn’t severe, as Griffin returned in the second quarter with a sleeve on his leg and the Clippers nursing a small lead, which would disappear later in the quarter.
Suns 114, Nuggets 107: DENVER – Brandon Knight scored a career-high 38 points, Eric Bledsoe had 22 and Phoenix overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Denver.
Doc Rivers – “Losing the game hurt the most”.
J.J. Redick – “It seemed like we’re giving up a lot of threes in the fourth, and Lillard hit a few there, a flurry of them”. Veteran forward Paul Pierce was given the night off to rest and backup point guard Pablo Prigioni was back at the team hotel with flu symptoms.
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Rivers wasn’t willing to use the quick turnaround as an excuse. Tonight, I think fatigue was definitely an issue, just the travel when you’re doing a long flight and all that. He finished with 35 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
