Trail Blazers at Clippers
THE STORY: Portland is 3-0 for the second consecutive season and plays on the road for the first time this season when it meets the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday night. The Trail Blazers are aware that their fast start doesn’t mean much. They went 5-11 in their next 16 games last season. “We'll try to ride this winning wave and cut down on turnovers - we can't do that against the Clippers, because they love (to take advantage of an opponent's) turnovers,” said Wesley Matthews, who had 25 points in a 111-102 victory over Denver on Thursday. Portland is second in the league in scoring (106.3) and fourth in rebounds (48). The Clippers will try to regroup after losing their home opener Friday night to Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. Los Angeles was outrebounded 45-31. “Our defense and our rebounding (are) obviously an issue,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We're giving up too many points right now.”
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Trail Blazers), FS Prime Ticket (Clippers)
ABOUT THE BLAZERS (3-0): Kurt Thomas certainly isn’t the first player you think of when talking about Portland, but the league’s oldest player (39) has been extremely productive. Thomas, in his 17th season, is 7 of 8 from the field and has seven rebounds. Against Denver he was 3 for 3 and had six rebounds in just 12 minutes. The 6-9 forward/center was signed as a free agent on Dec. 11. “He doesn’t mind giving up his body,” coach Nate McMillan said when Thomas signed. “I think it’s something we needed and it’s something he will be able to bring.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (1-2): All five starters scored in double figures against Chicago, led by Blake Griffin’s 34 points, but the bench contributed just 11 points and five rebounds. The Clippers were without Chauncey Billups (groin strain) on Friday and he remains day to day, according to Del Negro. Mo Williams started for Billups and had 13 points. The Clippers also will be without power forward Reggie Evans (sprained foot) for at least another week.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Portland has won nine of the past 10 games and 12 of the last 14 against the Clippers.
2. The Trail Blazers outshot the Clippers from the field (45.5 percent to 41.6) and the 3-point line (44.9 to 30) in three games last season.
3. Chris Paul is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 15 points and 10 assists.