• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Griffin, Clips down Blazers

Jan 28, 2013 - 5:59 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Blake Griffin had 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals, helping the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 96-83.

Caron Butler and Eric Bledsoe added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Clippers, who snapped a four-game skid.

Los Angeles played its fourth straight game without All-Star point guard Chris Paul due to a bruised right kneecap.

"Blake is the guy out there right now," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "For us to win, Blake has to play at a high level. He's unselfish and makes other players better."

LaMarcus Aldridge ended with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who had a brief two-game winning streak snapped. Damian Lillard and J.J. Hickson tallied 16 and 15 points, respectively.

The Clippers wasted little time in bouncing back from Saturday's 101-100 loss at Portland's Rose Garden. Los Angeles scored the final eight points of the first quarter to take a 33-27 lead.

The home team scored the final seven points of the second stanza to take a 55-50 margin into the locker room.

Holding a 64-57 lead with 6:56 left in the third period, the Clippers ended the frame on a 14-5 run. Griffin tallied six points during the surge that Bledsoe capped with a layup for a 78-62 margin.

Los Angeles cruised to victory in the fourth.

"It's tough to beat a team back-to-back," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "The Clippers came out more aggressive."

Game Notes

Los Angeles improved to 20-5 at home this season ... The Clippers shot 51.2 percent from the field ... Portland turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 18 Los Angeles points.