Clippers to play the Portland Trail Blazers in final preseason game
The Clippers will play the Portland Trail Blazers in their final preseason game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Staples Center.
The Clippers, who are 2-5 in exhibition play, are coming off a 108-105 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. In that game, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul combined for 69 points. Griffin had 35 points and seven rebounds, while Paul had 34 points and nine assists.
Rebounding and defense remain the team’s Achilles’ heel. The Clippers have been outrebounded in each of their exhibitions, most recently, 43-35, by the Suns.
Matt Barnes, who Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said will start at small forward in the team’s season opener Thursday against Oklahoma City, has struggled throughout the preseason with his shot.
He entered Wednesday’s game shooting three for 31 (9.7%) from the field, including one of 18 (5.6%) from behind the three-point line. Against the Suns, he was 0 for 5 from the field when he missed all four from long range.
When the Clippers played Portland on Oct. 12, the Trail Blazers won, 118-114. In that game, the Trail Blazers outshot the Clippers, 54% to 44%, and outrebounded them, 49-35.
Both teams were hot from the three-point line that night, combining for 36 three-pointers. The regular season three-point combined NBA record is 31.
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