----- Paul George scored 33 points including two clutch free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining as the Los Angeles Clippers completed a season-sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers with a 113-112 victory Tuesday night at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Paul George scored 33 points, including two free throws with 4.8 seconds left giving the Los Angeles Clippers a 113-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night at Moda Center in Portland. George made 13 of his 22 shots and pulled down 11 rebounds.
CJ McCollum led Portland (32-25) with 28 points but he missed a pull up jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game. Norman Powell scored 23 points, Enes Kanter finished with nine points and nine rebounds, and Carmelo Anthony scored 18.
The Blazers were without Jusuf Nurkic (injury management) and Damian Lillard (hamstring). Both are expected to play Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers were up 86-82 heading into the final quarter, but Carmelo Anthony's 3-pointer and jumper gave the Blazers a 93-90 lead. Powell's layup extended it to 101-96 midway through the period.
After George made free throws, Ivica Zubac's layup narrowed it to 109-107. McCollum against answered with a three-pointer, but George's basket got the Clippers within a point with 33 seconds left.
McCollum missed a corner three and with 4.8 seconds to go George made a pair of free throws to give the Clippers the lead. McCollum missed a jumper to end it.
The loss dropped the Blazers to just 1-9 against the top-five teams in the Western Conference.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers play the second of a back-to-back tomorrow night at Moda Center against the Denver Nuggets. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Blazers now 1-9 against the top-five teams in the West.