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Blazers edge Clippers in OT

Dec 27, 2013 - 8:15 AM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Nicolas Batum hit a clutch 3-pointer near the end of regulation to extend the game, and the Portland Trail Blazers scored eight of the final 11 points in overtime to pull out a 116-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who had three wisdom teeth removed on Sunday, filled the box score with 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while Batum and Wesley Matthews each finished with 19 points for the Blazers, who have won seven of their last eight games.

"It was tough. The whole first shot I was tired and kind of sluggish. In the third quarter I started to feel better and by the fourth I was ready to go," Aldridge said.

Chris Paul missed a potential game-winner at the end of regulation, spoiling an otherwise stellar 34-point, 16-assist performance. Blake Griffin, who was unjustifiably ejected in Wednesday's Christmas Day loss to the Warriors, bounced back with a monster 35-point, 11-rebound effort.

Jamal Crawford added 21 points in the setback, LA's second straight on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

There were seven leads changes in the extra session, the last coming on Aldridge's turnaround fadeaway while falling to the ground with 39.9 seconds to go.

Batum added two free throws for a 112-109 Blazers lead after Griffin was too strong on an inside post move, and it was a still a three-point game before Crawford split a pair at the foul line with 13.4 ticks showing.

Matthews made it a 116-112 game with two more at the stripe, and Paul was way off the mark on a wild 3-point try to end LA's hope of a comeback.

"We just slowed it down and tried to get stops. I made shots down the stretch and our guys just calmed down down the stretch," Aldridge said.

An ugly first quarter was summed up in a late Blazers possession that featured four consecutive misses and the Clippers losing a potential rebound out of bounds.

Portland held a 19-14 lead after 12 minutes and led by as many as a dozen in the second quarter before the Clippers pulled within 47-46 at the break.

The Blazers held a 76-73 lead entering the fourth and kept the Clippers at bay until Paul drained a jumper with 1:08 remaining in regulation for a 97-96 Clippers lead -- their first since it was 9-8 midway through the opening quarter.

After trading baskets, DeAndre Jordan blocked Aldridge under the basket and Paul hit a baseline fallaway over Matthews at the other end to give the Clippers a 101-98 advantage.

Batum, though, hit from long range from the right wing to tie it, and Paul drew iron on an open 17-footer at the buzzer.

"I always foul. The one time I don't, they score. That's why I always foul, so that one is one me," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said about not fouling up three points.

Game Notes

Earlier Thursday, the NBA issued a statement saying Griffin should not have received the second technical he was whistled for on Wednesday, which caused his ejection ...Paul recorded his 24th double-double of the season, while Griffin pushed his total to 22 ... Jordan pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds ... Damian Lillard, who had scored 25-plus points in his previous three games, had just 14 on 4-of-12 shooting for Portland, which held a 60-48 rebounding advantage ... Portland overcame 17 turnovers ... LA turned it over just six times ... The Clippers are 2-8 in their last 10 in Portland.