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(Updated) Eric Gordon gives Clippers the lead after three

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End of third quarter: Clippers 71, Portland 70

The Clippers had trouble on the boards and putting together anything cohesively on offense for much of the third quarter, but Eric Gordon’s play got them back in the game. Gordon has 18 points after three.

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Blake Griffin scored on a tip-in a minute into the second half, but a couple of defensive breakdowns inside led to two easy Portland baskets, and Griffin’s offensive play wasn’t going to be enough to offset that. Another defensive lapse, this one by Griffin, let former Clipper Marcus Camby free for an easy layup inside as the Trail Blazers pushed their lead to 63-54.

Baron Davis fed Ryan Gomes for an inside basket, then scored on a full-court drive to cut Portland’s lead to five and force a Blazer timeout with 5:53 left in the quarter.

With the Clippers failing to muster much offense beyond the occasional drive by Gordon, Griffin fought for a loose ball under the defensive boards, dribbled three-quarters of the court and found Gordon for a breakaway layup to cut the lead to two, but a turnover right away pushed the lead back to four.

Gordon’s steal and layup with just under two minutes left brought the Clippers to 70-68, and he made two free throws near the end of the quarter to give the Clippers the lead.

The Griffin line: 15 points on seven for 12 shooting and 12 rebounds.

--Mike James

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