Clippers Blaze A Trail

The Los Angeles Clippers continued their searing form; winning their 5th straight game to improve to 6-4 on the season; this time against the dangerous Portland Trail Blazers; a team they had already met twice this season with a split.

Not for the first time this season; it was a balanced scoring effort; with 6 players in double figures; led again by the irrepressible Paul George; who is in the form of his life without his usual side-kick Kawhi Leonard. Nicolas Batum continued his hot streak ;as he is enjoying his start to life as a Clipper; this time putting up 22 points and playing superb defense & hustle.

It was also Isaiah Hartenstein's turn to shine; as he came up big with 14 points in 17 minutes; punctuated by a show-time; one-handed slam that brought the house down. Another key for the Clippers was slowing down the offense of Blazer star Damian Lillard; sometimes employing double-looks just to keep him from getting the ball. That ploy worked a treat; as the visitors were unable to garner much momentum and had to rely on forced shots & poor-percentage attempts.