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DeAndre Jordan says he was confused in final second against Portland

Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez and Clippers center DeAndre Jordan battle for position in the first half.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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DeAndre Jordan spoke to the media Friday for the first time about what transpired during the final play of the fourth quarter Wednesday, when he failed to put back an offensive rebound with 0.7 seconds left in a 98-93 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jordan said that he was confused because the clock at Staples Center had stopped and he heard a buzzer, which he assumed was a shot-clock violation.

“I was confused for so long,” Jordan said. “I was like, ‘Why did they stop the clock?’ That’s really where my confusion came from. We all make mistakes.”

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The Clippers, who are in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 40-22 -- four games behind second-place Memphis (43-17) and six games ahead of eight-place Oklahoma City (34-28), were outscored, 11-6, by Portland in the overtime.

“I can tell you this,” Jordan said. “If the shot clock goes off, I’m still going to shoot the ball from now on. I’ll take a delay of game.”

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Friday that even if Jordan had tipped the ball in, he’s not sure it would have counted.

“It would have been tight,” Rivers said. “I think that would have been a huge dilemma for the league. I don’t know if he could have gotten it off to be honest.”

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