The Los Angeles Clippers rolled into Portland on December 26, 2025, and left with their third consecutive victory, dispatching the Trail Blazers 119-103 in a game that delivered fireworks, momentum swings, and a career night for Brook Lopez. For Clippers fans, this was more than just a routine win; it was a statement that this squad, led by a star-studded cast, is finding its groove as the season heats up.
James Harden was the engine, pouring in 34 points and orchestrating the offense with his trademark flair. But the real headline-stealer? Brook Lopez, who torched the Blazers from deep, hitting a career-high nine 3-pointers on his way to 31 points. "Lopez made a career-high nine 3-point shots on his way to 31 points as the Clippers won their third straight game, 119-103," reported the OC Register. The Blazers simply had no answer for the veteran big man, who seemed to find the bottom of the net every time he let it fly from beyond the arc.
Kawhi Leonard, ever the quiet assassin, tallied 28 points, but it was his fourth-quarter explosion—18 points in the final frame—that helped the Clippers slam the door on any hopes of a Portland comeback. Leonard also contributed across the board with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, showing why he remains one of the league’s most complete players.
The Blazers, meanwhile, started the night with confidence. Deni Avdija led the charge, putting up 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists—just a whisker away from a triple-double. Shaedon Sharpe brought the house down with a fast-break dunk late in the first half, and Donovan Clingan’s free throw gave Portland a 71-59 lead with 8:16 left in the third quarter, matching their largest advantage of the night. For a moment, the Moda Center crowd believed an upset was brewing.
But basketball, as they say, is a game of runs. The Clippers proved that adage in emphatic fashion, unleashing a 19-1 run in the third quarter that turned the game on its head. Lopez’s seventh 3-pointer cut the deficit, and a technical foul on acting Blazers coach Tiago Splitter opened the door even wider. Leonard’s free throw, followed by Harden’s two from the stripe and a driving layup, tied things up at 72-all. The Clippers took their first lead at 75-72 on Lopez’s eighth three, and when he drilled his ninth to make it 78-72, it was clear the tide had turned for good.
"Harden’s four-point play with 1:06 left in the third quarter pushed the lead to 85-77," according to the OC Register. The Clippers, who trailed by as many as 12, simply overwhelmed the Blazers with their firepower from deep and relentless pressure. Leonard’s thunderous dunk on Clingan in the fourth quarter made it 95-86, and though Avdija briefly cut the lead to seven, a six-point possession for the Clippers pushed it out to 101-88 with just over eight minutes remaining. The Blazers never recovered.
The numbers tell the story of a team firing on all cylinders. The Clippers finished a scorching 20 for 40 from three-point range, a dazzling 50%, and went 29 for 31 from the free-throw line—an eye-popping 94%. The Blazers weren’t shabby from deep themselves, hitting 41%, but they struggled at the line, converting only 68% of their attempts. That disparity proved costly, as every missed free throw seemed to sap a bit more energy from the home side.
Turnovers were nearly even—14 for Portland, 12 for Los Angeles—but the Clippers made theirs count less, especially in the crucial second half. It’s a subtle stat, but as any coach will tell you, timing is everything. The Blazers’ miscues came at the worst possible moments, fueling the Clippers’ devastating runs and preventing Portland from ever regaining their rhythm.
For the Blazers, Avdija’s near triple-double was a bright spot, and Shaedon Sharpe’s athleticism continues to excite the Portland faithful. But this was their third straight loss, and the frustration was palpable. Acting head coach Tiago Splitter, stepping in for the absent Chauncey Billups, was hit with a technical in the heat of the third quarter. The Blazers will need to regroup quickly, with the Boston Celtics coming to town on December 28 at 3 p.m. PST—a matchup that won’t get any easier.
On the Clippers’ side, the win marks their third straight and hints at a team finally coalescing around its stars. Harden and Leonard, who were actually outscored by Avdija and Sharpe in the first half (29-21), flipped the script in the second, finishing with a combined 62 points to their counterparts’ 45. It’s the kind of performance that underscores the value of having not just one, but two legitimate superstars—especially when the game hangs in the balance.
Brook Lopez’s historic night can’t be overstated. For a player who’s reinvented himself as a stretch big, his nine threes were both a personal milestone and a tactical masterstroke. The Blazers, often forced to double-team Harden and Leonard, left Lopez just enough daylight to punish them repeatedly from long range. It’s a testament to the Clippers’ depth and the headaches they pose for opposing defenses.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will return home to host the Detroit Pistons on December 28 at 6 p.m. Their recent surge has them climbing the standings and gaining confidence at just the right time. For Portland, the focus shifts to snapping their losing skid and rediscovering the spark that saw them start strong against Los Angeles.
Momentum is a fickle thing in the NBA, but right now, it’s wearing Clippers blue and red. With Harden orchestrating, Leonard closing, and Lopez stretching the floor, Los Angeles looks every bit the contender their roster suggests. For the Blazers, there’s work to do—but with young talents like Avdija and Sharpe, the future remains bright, even after a chilly night in Rip City.
As the final buzzer sounded, it was clear: the Clippers are surging, the Blazers are searching, and the Western Conference just got a little more interesting. The next chapter awaits, but for now, Los Angeles heads home with another impressive win in their back pocket.
