Clippers vs. Blazers Recap: Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams come up clutch late

Lou Williams hit two clutch jumpers in the final minute and the LA Clippers had just enough in the tank to eke out a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, 107-101.

The Clippers trailed by six points entering the final period, but Kawhi Leonard immediately got to work, nailing a midrange jumper on the first possession of the quarter. With the Blazers primarily employing drop coverages and no individual defender with the size to contest Leonard, he had clean looks essentially every time.

Portland made a game of it thanks to the hot shooting of Anfernee Simons. Simons showed some pop off the dribble and hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to almost match the Clippers' entire output for the game. Ultimately, Williams' three with 32.5 seconds left after he crossed over Mario Hezonja edged LA past Simons, and gave the Clippers enough cushion the rest of the way.

Williams finished with 26 points, just behind Leonard's 27. Leonard and Ivica Zubac each had 13 rebounds to lead the Clippers.

Ivica Zubac controlled the paint to start the game, dominating his matchup with Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside made 1-of-7 shots in the first half and was blocked by Patrick Beverley on one possession for good measure. Zubac controlled the glass as well with five offensive rebounds in the first quarter. The Clippers shot 36.7% from the field, but had 13 second-chance points in the period.

The Clippers eventually built an 11-point lead in the second quarter and seemed poised to extend it against a Blazers lineup of Anfernee Simons, Kent Bazemore, Rodney Hood, Mario Hezonja, and Skal Labissiere. But a stepback three from Dame Lillard – and a thunderous dunk in the half court – shifted the momentum, keeping Portland in striking distance heading into the break.

Portland came out guns blazing in the third quarter, scoring 36 points. CJ McCollum had his jumper working, and the Clippers had difficulty scoring outside of transition.

That changed in the fourth as Leonard settled down, Williams got comfortable, and Montrezl Harrell was able to score whenever he wanted to against the lithe Labissiere.