Clippers, becoming experts at close games, lose a tight one to Portland

Four games into their season, and the Clippers only seem to know how to play close games.

It was tight against the Phoenix Suns in an opening loss and tight against the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors in back-to-back victories.

On Wednesday night, the Clippers found themselves in another game that came down to the wire at the Intuit Dome, a game they wereunable to pull out in losing 106-105 to the Portland Trail Blazers.

“All of our games are going to be close,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Eighty-two of them.”

Lue cracked a little smile after saying that, but the fact is that the Clippers lost to the Suns by three points in their regular-season opener at home, won by five in Denver, won by eight in Golden State and lost by one at home to Portland.

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The Clippers meet the Suns again, on Thursday night, in a back-to-back game at home.

“For the most part, they all are going to be that way, which is good for us,” James Harden, who had 19 points and 10 assists, said about these close affairs for the Clippers.

Harden, who was 6-for-18 from the field and had five turnovers, was asked why he feels it is good for the Clippers to be in these close games.

“Because, that means we got to find a way to win,” he said. “Which, obviously, we want to blow teams out. But if that’s not the case, we find ways to win. And every scenario is different. Tonight we just didn’t capitalize and we didn’t close. Me missing free throws, it can’t happen.”

Indeed, Harden missed one of two free throws late, giving the Clippers a 103-102 lead and opening the door for Anfernee Simmons (25 points) to score and give the Trail Blazers a one-point lead.

Still, the Clippers were in position to win after Noman Powell (30 points) scored for a one-point lead that was erased after Deandre Ayton scored for a 106-105 Portland lead.

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But Ivica Zubac missed two free throws with 1:20 left, Amir Cofey missed a three-pointer and Powell had his shot blocked.

Even with all that happening, the Clippers had one last opportunity after their defense got a stop with 3.9 seconds left.

But, Harden’s inbound pass for Zubac in the lane was intercepted by Ayton.

The Trail Blazers then ran out the clock to secure the win.

It meant the fans couldn’t cheer a win and that their biggest cheer of the night came just before the third quarter started, when fans inside Intuit Dome began waving towels, celebrating the news that the Dodgers had defeated the Yankees to win the World Series.

Powell explained how the Clippers can learn from the close games and how it can help them going forward.

“Just staying together and execution,” Powell said. “Really, really locking in on what we need to do offensively and defensively, being tied in, getting guys out of their comfort zone offensively and gang rebounding and finishing possessions…Just being the more aggressive and physical team, taking the fight to them down the stretch of games. I think on the road we did a great job of that, getting the stops at the moment of truth as [Clippers assistant coach] JVG [Jeff Van Gundy] says in the course of the game down the stretch. We just haven’t been able to do that at home, but hopefully we can do that tomorrow.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.