Stoudamire Finishes Clippers

Damon Stoudamire lived up to his nickname.

Stoudamire, who has a tattoo on his right arm depicting Mighty Mouse lofting a basketball, played the part of superhero for the Portland Trail Blazers with a season-high 32 points in a come-from-behind 91-85 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night.

Stoudamire scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point basket with 25 seconds left to give Portland the lead for good.

“He saved the day,” teammate Shareef Abdur-Rahim said.

With the victory, the Trail Blazers kept it close in the Western Conference playoff race. Portland, which has been to the playoffs for the last 21 seasons, is one game behind Denver in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot.

“I have a lot of confidence,” Stoudamire said. “I feel like I can play.”

The Clippers, out of the playoff picture, have lost five in a row and 13 of 15. They have lost 10 in a row in the Rose Garden.

Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 22 points in his return to the starting lineup after sitting out two games because of a sore left knee.

The Trail Blazers were down by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, causing Coach Maurice Cheeks to sulk on the bench with his arms crossed.

Abdur-Rahim made two free throws to give Portland a 62-61 lead late in the third quarter. Stoudamire made a three-pointer to put the Trail Blazers ahead, 72-71.

The Clippers regained the lead when Maggette’s driving layup made it 77-76 with 4 minutes 52 seconds left. Melvin Ely followed with a short jumper to extend it.

The Trail Blazers didn’t pull back in front until Stoudamire’s three-pointer with 47 seconds left made it 84-83.

Maggette’s free throws briefly put the Clippers back in front, but Stoudamire made his go-ahead three-pointer and added a fastbreak layup with 14 seconds left to make it 89-85.

“Damon hit some big shots and that team is on a mission trying to get in the playoffs,” Clipper forward Elton Brand said. “They just out-scrapped us, especially in the end.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy said it was more than Stoudamire that lost it for the Clippers.

“Twenty-six points off turnovers and 19 second-chance points. That’s 45 of their points in those two areas,” Dunleavy said. “That was the game right there.”