Trail Blazers at Clippers
Chris Paul will try to follow up a historic performance when he and the Los Angeles Clippers wrap up a four-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Paul became the first player since turnovers were officially recorded in 1977-78 to finish a game with 20 points, 20 assists and zero turnovers in Saturday's 133-105 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans.
"As a point guard, I'm like the quarterback, so a turnover is like an interception," Paul told reporters. "And when you have as much firepower as we have, a turnover takes away that opportunity." There were plenty of opportunities for Paul and six other double-digit scorers on Saturday, as the Clippers posted their best offensive output in a regulation affair since March 6, 2014. Paul is averaging 23 points in two wins this season against the Trail Blazers, who have lost three straight games - all by single digits - to fall to 1-3 on their current five-game road trip. C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard combined for 12 makes from 3-point range and 67 points in a 118-111 setback at Indiana on Saturday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV, CSN Northwest (Portland), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (12-13): Portland was upset with its inconsistency in the loss to the Pacers, as it scored 44 points in the first quarter and just 13 in the fourth. "It's the same thing," Lillard told reporters. "We start off the game well and we build a lead, but we know the other team is going to make a run. We're just not getting it done." The Blazers entered Sunday ranked fourth in the NBA in first-quarter (28.5), second-quarter (28.2) and first-half scoring (56.7), but they are 16th (50.9) after the break.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (17-7): Paul's heroic effort came at a great time, as leading scorer Blake Griffin was sidelined with a knee injury. He is expected to return to face the Blazers, against whom he is averaging 24.5 points, 13 rebounds and 2.5 steals on the season. With Griffin sidelined, Austin Rivers received his first start of the season and responded with 18 points before departing with a concussion.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lillard has scored at least 30 points in three of four games on the road trip.
2. Los Angeles C DeAndre Jordan is 19-for-23 from the floor over a four-game span.
3. The Clippers have won five straight regular-season meetings and three in a row at home.