Blazers higher, however not fairly adequate to carry off LA Clippers initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Northwest

The Path Blazers took a giant step ahead Tuesday night time of their caliber of play, however sadly for them, it didn’t result in a win.

The Los Angeles Clippers slid previous the Blazers 113-112, stealing the victory inside the ultimate 5 seconds.

The Path Blazers led by 5 with 1:03 to go on a 29-foot three-point shot by CJ McCollum, however didn’t rating one other level. In the meantime, Paul George acquired to the basket for a pair of layups to attract the Clips inside a degree.

Then, with 4.8 left, George drew a foul on his technique to the ring and transformed each foul photographs to provide his group the one-point lead that will win the sport.

Norman Powell had missed a clear take a look at a 3 from the best nook with 16.5 left after which McCollum’s 14-foot pullup in site visitors did not go in as the ultimate horn sounded.

You couldn’t complain about both shot, it’s simply that neither went in.

“The final minute, Norm had a terrific look,” Terry Stotts stated. “CJ made a terrific move to him, Rondae screened his man, so Norm, I heard, has the third-best three-point proportion from the nook. So that you couldn’t get a greater look than that for Norm.

“And CJ, watching the replay, he acquired a clear take a look at it. Possibly he might’ve drawn a foul, however you don’t need to essentially go away it within the palms of the referees. However you take a look at that shot and it was virtually in. I assumed these two have been actually attractiveness.”

They have been. And Portland performed a stable recreation, blitzing George on just about each pick-and-roll, incessantly getting the ball out of his palms.

For the sport, George was 13-22 from the sector however solely 2-8 from three-point vary on the way in which to 33 factors.

Los Angeles did handle to hit 50 % of its photographs from the ground, however solely 11-38 from distance.

It was one other loss to a group forward of Portland within the Western Convention standings, however this was a far cry from the blowouts the Blazers had suffered in latest video games towards these groups.

This was an enchancment. A step in the best route. And with the Denver Nuggets stopping by Moda Middle Wednesday night time, it will likely be fascinating to see if that route stays the identical.

And with Damian Lillard anticipated to be again in uniform, that ought to assist keep the course.