Trail Blazers 108, Clippers 98
LOS ANGELES -- CJ McCollum had 27 points, and Damian Lillard scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Portland Trail Blazers earned a 108-98 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference quarterfinal matchup Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Maurice Harkless contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, Allen Crabbe added 11 points, and Mason Plumlee and Gerald Henderson chipped in 10 apiece for Portland. Plumlee also grabbed 15 rebounds.
J.J. Redick had 19 points, while Jamal Crawford scored 17 for the Clippers, who played their first game of the series without Blake Griffin (partially torn left quad tendon) and Chris Paul (fractured right hand). Both of the stars were injured Monday in the Clippers' Game 4 loss at Portland. DeAndre Jordan collected 16 points and 17 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by McCollum and Lillard, who scored 19 in the second half, put Portland up 102-86 with 4:13 remaining in the contest. The Clippers never recovered.
Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers started Crawford, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, and Paul Pierce at forward, Jordan at center, and Redick and Austin Rivers in the backcourt.
The Clippers started slow and looked like a group that had played little together in the opening quarter. However, they shook off their sluggish beginning to build an eight-point lead in the second quarter.
The Trail Blazers seized control in the fourth quarter and put themselves on the verge of securing a second-round matchup with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Game 6 is Friday at Portland's Moda Center.
The Blazers trailed 50-45 at halftime, but went on a 10-0 run to open the third period for a 55-50 advantage after a jumper by McCollum. Lillard, who managed just three points and missed all five of his field-goal attempts in the first quarter, hit his first shot from the floor -- a 3-pointer -- during the run to give Portland a 51-50 lead.
The Blazers grabbed their largest lead, 71-62, in the third after a dunk by Plumlee with 2:15 remaining. However, Los Angeles scored the quarter's final nine points, capped by two Crawford free throws, to tie the score at 71 heading in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts was not concerned about his players being overconfident heading into Game 5 since the Clippers were missing injured F Blake Griffin and PG Chris Paul. "They've been looking forward to this opportunity and I think they're looking forward to seizing it instead of being complacent," Stotts said. ... Clippers coach Doc Rivers began crying after a reporter asked whom he leaned on for emotional support during this trying time for his club. After regaining his composure, Rivers said the question made him think of his late mom Bettye, who died in June 2015 after a lengthy illness. ... Rivers confirmed that Paul (right hand fracture) would be out four to six weeks if the Clippers advance in the playoffs. ... If Game 7 is necessary, it will be played Sunday at Staples Center.