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The Portland Trail Blazers had the quarter of their careers, in some ways literally. They shot the lights out during the first quarter, and led 45-17 over the Los Angeles Clippers. Everything went right, and the Clippers struggled throughout.
But from there, it quickly went downhill. The shots stopped falling, the Clippers found their groove, and they slowly chipped away at the lead over multiple quarters, finally closing to within 3 early in the fourth. The Blazers built the lead back to 10, but the Clippers quickly stomped it out. With three and a half minutes left, Los Angeles had taken a 3 point lead, and every Blazer shot was a struggle. Portland kept it close, but hot Clippers three-point shooting put the game away. The Blazers will have plenty to ponder on the plane ride home.
The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Allen Crabbe.
Moe Harkless left the game early, and was diagnosed with a sprained ankle. It was not clear when it happened.
Portland F Maurice Harkless (right ankle sprain) will NOT return.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) October 23, 2015
That's it for preseason. Portland will make their final roster decisions soon, probably tomorrow. Then the Blazers tip off the season Wednesday night, in the Moda Center against the New Orleans Pelicans, televised on KGW. Stay tuned for more coverage of the Clippers game later tonight!