Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 102-87 win over the Trail Blazers

The Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, 102-87. Here are five takeaways from that game.

1. Hack-A-Jordan was taken to the next level

DeAndre Jordan shot a career-high 34 free throws against the Trail Blazers, making 12 of those attempts. From the 3:50 mark in the fourth quarter to the 2:18 mark, Jordan shot 18 free throws. Jordan, who is shooting 38.7% from the foul line this season, joked after the game that he got in some good practice Monday, though he acknowledged that shooting so many free throws is a bit of a nuisance.

Said Jordan: “It gets boring, and it makes me miss my reservations after the game.”

2. Rebounding improvement

The Clippers won the battle of the boards for the first time this season, outrebounding the Trail Blazers, 55-54. Jordan had a season-high 24 rebounds, three short of his career high. Lance Stephenson grabbed 10 rebounds, Blake Griffin had eight and Luc Mbah a Moute had five. Jordan and Griffin are expected to get big numbers on the boards, but Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he’s been pleasantly surprised by Stephenson’s and Mbah a Moute’s rebounding efforts.

Said Rivers: “I think we’re getting better. Luc has been fantastic; he’s really helped us, and Lance. Those two guys in particular.”

3. Chris Paul injured again

After playing in all 82 games in 2014-15, Chris Paul has battled through a few injuries in the early goings of this season, including a broken finger, a groin injury and most recently, a rib-muscle strain. Paul left Monday’s game in the third quarter after sustaining the rib-muscle strain and didn’t return. After the win, the Clippers didn’t have an injury update on Paul, saying he will be evaluated throughout the week.

4. The Clippers came through in the third

Rivers recently said that the Clippers needed to play better in third quarters. In Monday’s game, they turned a 54-54 halftime score into a 10-point advantage entering the fourth quarter. The Clippers outscored the Trail Blazers in the third quarter, 25-15, and outshot them from the field, 40.9% to 27.8%.

Said Rivers: “Third quarters are big quarters for teams.”

5. A bit of a streak

The Clippers have won three games in a row, their longest winning streak since opening the season with a 4-0 record. Before this streak, the Clippers had lost eight of 11 games. The Clippers are now four games into a six-game homestand, with home games left against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and the Orlando Magic on Saturday before leaving for a five-game trip.