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Shorthanded Trail Blazers take on surging Clippers

Mar 31, 2007 - 3:20 PM LA Clippers (35-37) at Portland (29-43) 10:00 pm EDT

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- While the Portland Trail Blazers lost a key performer, the Los Angeles Clippers are starting to come together.

The shorthanded Trail Blazers will take on the surging Clippers when the teams face off on Saturday.

Portland announced Friday that star forward Zach Randolph underwent surgery on his right hand. He will be in a cast for the next five weeks, meaning he will miss the remainder of the regular season. Randolph leads the team in scoring (23.6) and rebounding (10.1) in 68 games.

The injury occurred during the Blazers' 94-93 loss at Minnesota last Sunday. But it did not seem to affect Randolph, who collected 43 points and 17 rebounds.

The Clippers are starting to climb the Western Conference standings. Los Angeles is one-half game behind seventh-place Denver (35-36) and 1 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Golden State (34-39).

Los Angeles snapped a 17-game road losing streak against Sacramento with a 105-101 win on Friday. Cuttino Mobley had 26 points and former King Jason Hart added 16 and seven assists.

The teams have split their two meetings this season with the home club winning each time.