Heading into the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Clippers weren't playing particularly well, nor was point guard Chris Paul, who had yet to score. The Clippers, once down 18 points in the second half, cut the lead to eight points heading into the final period, finally took charge thanks to Paul, who scored 13 points in the fourth, leading the Clippers to a 74-71 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden.
Not only was the victory the seventh win for the Clippers in their last nine road games, but it also snapped a six-game losing streak for the club in Portland. That was just the latest in a string of long losing streaks snapped by Paul and the Clippers this season:
- January 29 - Clippers 109, Nuggets 105: The Clippers snapped a nine-game losing streak in Denver
- February 1 - Clippers 107, Jazz 105: The Clippers snapped a 16-game losing streak in Utah
- February 6 - Clippers 107, Magic 102 (OT): The Clippers snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Magic
- February 16 - Clippers 74, Blazers 71: The Clippers snapped a six-game losing streak in Portland
Given the poor history of the Clippers, there are an unusual amount of long losing streaks, but with Paul at the helm the Clippers have been making a habit of erasing the past one game at a time. They will need to conjure up some more magic on Saturday afternoon, when they host the San Antonio Spurs, a team that has beaten the Clippers in 19 of their last 20 meetings.
The win on Thursday in Portland was also the fifth road win for the Clippers in a game they trailed by 10 or more points. That is one more such victory that in the last four seasons combined.
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