Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, left, of France, passes off as Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan (6) and Caron Butler (5) defend during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Clippers build big lead, beat Blazers 103-90
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, left, of France, passes off as Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan (6) and Caron Butler (5) defend during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer /
November 9, 2012
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jamal Crawford scored 25 points and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Portland Trail Blazers for a 103-90 victory on Thursday night.
De'Andre Jordan and Chris Paul had 21 points apiece for the Clippers, who led by 25 in the first half. Los Angeles improved to 4-2 in its first game away from Staples Center.
Nicolas Batum had 23 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who mounted a second-half challenge but ultimately couldn’t catch up.
Portland closed to 86-82 on Meyers Leonard’s alley-oop dunk from Batum in the fourth quarter, but the rally fizzled and Paul sent fans streaming for the doors when his jumper with 2:51 left extended the lead to 98-85.
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