The surging Los Angeles Clippers head to the great northwest to battle the Portland Trail Blazers in a rare appearance on TNT. The Clippers have been great at home, winning six straight games, but they are just 3-12 on the road this season. However, those three wins have come in their last four road games, as the Clippers have won 11 of their last 15 games.
Both teams are playing on the second night of back-to-back games tonight. Portland defeated Sacramento in overtime on Wednesday night, their third straight win. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves at home for their third straight win. The Clippers received a scare when Eric Gordon left last night's game with what was later called a torn tendon in the ring finger in his right hand, but did return to score 18 second-half points. Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler did provide some good news from the team plane last night:
Just landed in Portland. Gordon will play on with sore finger.
Blake Griffin saw his double-double streak snapped at 27 games, but he did score a game-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Portland got more bad injury news this week, as Marcus Camby is set to undergo left knee surgery, joining Greg Oden and Brandon Roy as Trail Blazers to have knee surgery this season. Tonight is the second of two Clippers games this season televised on TNT. In their other TNT appearance, the Clippers defeated Sacramento 100-82 on November 25.
For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read Clips Nation.