Going into Game 4, the Portland Trail Blazers needed a big win to tie the series, and the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Trail Blazers started off hot, making a bunch of shots in the first half of the first quarter, but they quickly cooled off. The Clippers, on the other hand, started off rather cold. Other than Chris Paul, who scored their first 12 points, they couldn’t make a shot. After a first quarter where neither team could seem to get the ball in the basket, the Blazers held a small 24-20 lead. The second quarter wasn’t much different, with both teams scoring 23 points, and at the end of a cold shooting first half, the Blazers held a 47-43 lead.
In the third quarter, both teams shot under 40%. Both teams struggled from the field all night, and after another back and forth quarter, the Blazers were able to keep their lead and were up by two points going into the final quarter. During the third quarter, Paul fell to injury (broken hand), and he will be out the rest of the playoffs. Without CP3, it will be a tough series for the Clippers.
During the fourth quarter, the Clippers continued to shoot poorly, but the Trail Blazers were able to catch fire. They outscored the Clippers 32-20, and they were able to pull out a 98-84 victory. The Blazers caught fire at the right time, and they never looked back once they started to get up. The victory ties the series at 2-2.
Al-Farouq Aminu had a career night to lead the Trail Blazers to victory in which he scored 30 points and hit six threes on ten attempts. C.J. McCollum played a solid game tonight as well, scoring 19 points and he had a +/- of +20. Mason Plumlee was able to record a solid double-double on the night. He grabbed 14 boards and assisted on 10 passes.
Jeff Green had a solid night tonight for L.A. but the rest of the team did not follow his lead. Green scored 17 points on 50% shooting. Blake Griffin scored 17 points but shot poorly, shooting 6 for 15. J.J. Redick had an awful night from the field, shooting 3 for 13 and making just 2 threes. With Paul out the rest of the series, it will be very difficult for the Clippers to win. Paul was playing the best basketball out of the whole team. He had 16 points on the night and he also stole the ball three times.
The next game of the series will be in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10 P.M. Eastern, and the winner of that game will likely win the series. Game 5 will be a crucial game for both teams, and both teams will be playing their absolute hardest.
