Clippers and Portland combine for 36 three-pointers in preseason game

Sunday’s preseason game between the Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers resembled an All-Star game -- lots of scoring, very little defense.

The teams combined for 36 three-pointers, which, had it occurred in a regular-season game, would have broken the NBA record by five. The Trail Blazers made 17 of 25 attempts (68%). The Clippers made 19 of 39 (48.7%).

Portland, which led by 14 points at halftime, pulled off the win, 119-114. The Clippers fell to 0-2 in exhibition play.

Jamal Crawford had an impressive second half, scoring 12 consecutive Clippers points in under two minutes to start the fourth quarter. That reduced Portland’s lead from 14 points to five. But they could not complete the comeback.

Crawford finished with a game-high 23 points on eight-for-13 shooting, including six for eight from beyond the three-point line.

The Clippers committed only nine turnovers while the Blazers had 21. But the Clippers were outrebounded, 49-35.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers had said before the game that he wanted his players to focus on defense after they committed 37 personal fouls Tuesday, sending the Golden State Warriors to the free-throw line 47 times. So much for that.

“The shooting today was phenomenal,” Rivers said. “Now I’d say both coaches weren’t happy with their defense. But I’d say overall, we struggled more.”

Blake Griffin, who was a scoring machine Tuesday, had a quiet nine points and two rebounds Sunday. DeAndre Jordan has a strong start but disappeared in the second half, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds. Chris Paul had a slow start but a great third quarter, finishing with 15 points and five assists.

Reggie Bullock started the game at small forward. He was two for three from beyond the arc, finishing with six points in 18 minutes 50 seconds.

The Clippers suffered their first injury of the preseason Sunday. Ekpe Udoh rolled his ankle during warmups before the game when he landed on a basketball. He didn’t play against the Trail Blazers.