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Clippers put home streak to the test vs. Blazers

Mar 30, 2012 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - The playoff-hopeful Los Angles Clippers aim for a sixth straight home win tonight against a Portland team hoping to win consecutive encounters for the first time in over two months.

The Clippers improved to 3-0 on a five-game homestand on Wednesday behind Blake Griffin, who had 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists as LA cruised to a 103-86 win over the Suns.

Chris Paul added 15 points and 15 assists, Caron Butler scored 14 and DeAndre Jordan finished with 13 points for the Clippers, who are currently the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff race and are 1 1/2 games behind the first place Lakers in the Pacific Division.

"Our defense was good and we got some easy transition baskets," said Griffin. "We're in a fight right now, we have to come out and play solid basketball."

The Clippers are 18-8 as the host this season and will finish their residency against Utah on Saturday.

The Blazers, meanwhile, are coming off a 99-93 win over New Orleans in Rip City on Thursday. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds in that one as Portland used a late run to secure things.

Luke Babbitt hit four three-pointers en route to a career-high 16 points, Wesley Matthews scored 18 and Nicolas Batum netted 14 for the Blazers, who have won two of three overall.

Portland, which hasn't won back-to-back games since Jan. 23-24, also completed a 4-0 season sweep of the Hornets, their first since 2002-03.

"In terms of what we want to accomplish as a team going forward, I thought the third and fourth quarter defensively -- that's where the game was won tonight," said Blazers interim head coach Kaleb Canales.

Portland is now 4-4 under Canales, who replaced the fired Nate McMillan earlier this month.

The Clippers have won two of three over the Blazers so far this season and a victory tonight would give them a win in the season series for the first time since 2006-07.