Sabonis, Trail Blazers Bring Clippers to Earth

The Clippers, who have been beating some of the teams they should be beating recently, ran into a 23-point, 13-rebound night by Arvydas Sabonis and a Trail Blazer team they seldom beat in Portland.

The result Friday night was predictable, an 86-79 Portland victory, its fourth in a row and 38th in the last 41 games against the Clippers at home.

Sabonis made two consecutive baskets, the last with 3:47 to play, that gave Portland a six-point lead the Clippers couldn’t overcome.

The Clippers were led by Rodney Rogers’ 22 points and 10 rebounds.

They rallied from a 14-point deficit to pull within two, but Sabonis’ two baskets ended the rally.

The Trail Blazers led, 70-56, after Aaron McKie made a three-point play 49 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Clippers scored the next 12 points and shut Portland out for five minutes.

After the teams traded baskets to make it 72-70, Sabonis scored on a 10-foot hook and a follow shot to put the Trail Blazers ahead 76-70. The Clippers couldn’t get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Rod Strickland added 19 points and seven assists for Portland. Buck Williams had 13 rebounds for The Trail Blazers, including six on the offensive boards.

Rogers kept the Clippers close in the first half, which ended with Portland leading, 46-41.

He scored 13 points, most after he posted up inside and backed his 255 pounds into position for a close-range shot. He hit five of nine shots and grabbed seven rebounds.

Terry Dehere added 14 points for the Clippers.