Clippers at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: After each team won on its home court in the first two meetings this season, the Portland Trail Blazers could have trouble holding serve when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. Portland will be playing the finale of a back-to-back-to-back and is expected to be without the services of All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who suffered a sprained ankle in Tuesday's home loss to Washington. It marks the eighth road game in 10 overall this month for the Clippers.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (18-9): Los Angeles is actively recruiting free agent J.R. Smith to fill the void left by the season-ending injury to shooting guard Chauncey Billups. Randy Foye was doing little to keep his name in the conversation, failing to score a field goal for eight straight quarters before erupting for 10 points in the fourth to spark Wednesday’s win. Blake Griffin had his sixth double-double in seven games with 23 points and 15 boards to lead six players in double figures.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (16-14): Having lost four of five entering Wednesday, Portland pulled out a gritty two-point win at Golden State – a place where it had lost 11 of 12. Gerald Wallace again came up big with Aldridge out, scoring 24 points following his 25-point effort Tuesday. Nicolas Batum has 50 points in his last two. Blazers coach Nate McMillan said he was hopeful Aldridge would be back by Saturday. Portland has lost three straight at home for the first time since April 2008.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Trail Blazers own a six-game home winning streak over the Clippers and have won 53 of the last 61 meetings in Portland.
2. Clippers assistant Howard Eisley was fined $15,000 by the NBA for verbal abuse of an official in Monday’s loss at Dallas.