Clippers again plagued by late struggles in 102-91 loss to Portland

The Clippers did not check into their hotel until slightly before 3:30 a.m. Friday, part of the drudgery of playing back-to-back games in the NBA.

Checkout came during the fourth quarter.

The Clippers’ epic late-game struggles somehow worsened during a 102-91 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center, the lowlights coming on almost every play over the final three minutes.

J.J. Redick and Blake Griffin each had the ball stripped for turnovers and Redick airballed a three-pointer, a cheerless conclusion to his return from the back spasms that had sidelined him the previous 3 1/2 games.

“We know what we’re capable of and we’re not finishing games right now,” said Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who had a quiet 11 points to go with eight assists.

Griffin’s fourth-quarter play was particularly notable considering the way he had finished the game the previous night against the Golden State Warriors, when he missed three shots and had two turnovers in the final 3 1/2 minutes.

His tally in the fourth quarter Friday was only slightly better: six points on three-for-eight shooting to go with two turnovers.

“We have to just be better down the stretch and execute,” said Griffin, who finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists after developing soreness in his left knee in the first quarter when he planted his leg awkwardly.

The Clippers also failed to defend Portland’s Damian Lillard, whose 16 second-half points included a 28-foot three-pointer with 1 minute 46 seconds left.

Lillard finished with 27 points to help the Trail Blazers end a seven-game losing streak.

Don’t look now but the Clippers (6-6) are .500 after having lost six of their last eight games, a dreadful record for a team with title aspirations even if it is still November.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers did not seem overly troubled, cheerfully whistling as he rounded a corner to speak with reporters after the game.

“I know we’re going to be good and I haven’t changed that at all,” Rivers said of his perception of his team. “But we have to play good too. While you’re figuring it out in the West, you’re losing games.”

The Clippers were within 90-87 with 3:15 left after a driving layup by Griffin, but a Lillard three-pointer and four consecutive points by Portland’s Mason Plumlee ended any hopes of a happy ending for the visitors. Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, who scored 18 points through three quarters, would add only two points the rest of the game.

Griffin departed the game late in the first quarter after experiencing soreness in his left knee, briefly returning to the locker room. But he was back midway through the second quarter with a black sleeve over the knee and proceeded to make his last four shots of the first half.

The Clippers weren’t at full strength even with Redick back and Griffin having persevered through his injury scare. Veteran forward Paul Pierce was given the night off to rest and backup point guard Pablo Prigioni was back at the team hotel with flu symptoms.

Rivers wasn’t willing to use the quick turnaround as an excuse.

“No one’s going to feel sorry for us; I don’t feel sorry for us,” Rivers said before the game. “The schedule was printed, it came out, this is how it is and you have to go play it. … I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned, ‘Hey guys, this is a back-to-back.’ I just say, ‘We play Portland and this is what we have to do.’”

They couldn’t do any of it, leaving them with another late night ahead on the trip home.