Trail Blazers Roll Over Short-Handed Clippers

Kevin Duckworth scored 29 points and Clyde Drexler added 22, leading the Portland Trail Blazers past the undermanned Los Angeles Clippers, 121-100, Sunday night.

It was the Trail Blazers’ eighth straight victory and 11th in their last 12 games.

Portland held the Clippers to 36 points in the first half as Duckworth scored 11 of his total in the second period, helping the Trail Blazers to a 52-36 halftime lead.

The Clippers, led by Larry Drew’s 22 points, lost their seventh consecutive game and 23rd straight on the road. The Clippers have not won in Portland since Feb. 24, 1981.

The Trail Blazers built their largest lead during a 3 1/2-minute stretch in the third period. Portland outscored the Clippers, 25-4, and had a 90-54 margin with 1:54 left in the quarter.

Drexler, who scored 16 points in the third period, got 8 points during the run when Portland built a 36-point lead.

Duckworth grabbed 12 rebounds and Jerome Kersey added 11 as Portland outrebounded the Clippers, 59-44.

Greg Kite scored 16 points for the Clippers.

“Jerome Kersey and Kevin Duckworth have become starters this year and have really filled a hole,” Clipper Coach Gene Shue said. “I guess Duckworth is the talk of the league. He’s coming on as a player and is extremely confident.”

The Clippers played without starters Michael Cage and Quintin Dailey. Cage, their leading rebounder, had a mild case of pneumonia and Dailey was out with a groin injury.

“Of course we were really weakened with the injuries, but that is not an excuse,” Shue said. “They blitzed us. The way they play defense can cover for them even when they are not shooting well, but tonight they shot very well from the outside.”

The Trail Blazers shot 47.8% for the game, compared with 42.4% for the Clippers.

“Kevin had another excellent game,” Portland Coach Mike Schuler said. “He is going to play well. He’s driven to play better and he’s gained the confidence in himself and his teammates.”

Drexler said: “We can’t let our level of play fall off even against a team with the Clippers’ record. We have to look at the whole picture. Defense carried us again tonight as it has all year long.”