Trail Blazers beat Clippers 116-97 behind Avdija’s 35

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the LA Clippers 116-97 on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Moda Center, with Deni Avdija leading the way with 35 points in a strong all-around performance. Portland used a dominant fourth quarter to turn a close game into a comfortable home win and move to 41-40.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter

Portland started sharply and took control early, outscoring the Clippers 33-24 in the opening period. The Trail Blazers found a steady rhythm offensively and created separation by getting to their spots before Los Angeles could settle in defensively.

Second quarter

The teams played a more even second quarter, but Portland still added slightly to its lead by taking the period 28-27. That gave the Trail Blazers a 61-51 advantage at halftime, a cushion built on balanced scoring and a clear edge on the glass.

Third quarter

The Clippers responded after the break and had their best stretch of the night in the third. Los Angeles won the quarter 33-25 behind improved shot-making, trimming Portland’s lead to 86-84 and setting up a tight finish entering the fourth.

Fourth quarter

Portland delivered the decisive push in the final 12 minutes. The Trail Blazers outscored the Clippers 30-13 in the fourth quarter, tightening up defensively and controlling the rebounding battle as the game swung firmly back in their favor. Los Angeles managed just 13 points in the period, and Portland steadily pulled away.

Key performers

Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers: Avdija led all scorers with 35 points and added five assists, setting the tone for Portland’s offense throughout the night.

Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: Clingan anchored the interior with a team-high 13 rebounds, helping Portland finish with a 46-35 advantage on the boards.

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: Leonard paced Los Angeles with 24 points and eight rebounds, keeping the Clippers within reach through three quarters.

Darius Garland, Clippers: Garland finished with a team-high seven assists and helped organize the Clippers during their third-quarter push.

NerdSports Stat: Portland and Los Angeles each attempted 83 field goals, but the Trail Blazers still won by 19 because they finished plus-18 at the free-throw line made (30 to 12) and plus-11 on the glass.

Game analysis

This game turned on Portland’s ability to win the possession battle and finish stronger late. The Trail Blazers shot 44.6 percent from the field compared with 43.4 percent for the Clippers, so the overall shooting gap was modest. The bigger differences came elsewhere.

Portland earned 35 free-throw attempts and converted 30 of them, while the Clippers went 12-for-12 at the line but got there far less often. That gap gave the Trail Blazers a major scoring lift, especially in a game where neither team was especially sharp from three-point range.

The rebounding numbers also mattered. Portland collected 46 boards to the Clippers’ 35, with Clingan’s work inside helping the home team extend possessions and limit second chances. The Trail Blazers also moved the ball more consistently, finishing with 23 assists to Los Angeles’ 17.

Most important, Portland responded after letting its 10-point halftime lead shrink to two entering the fourth. Instead of letting the Clippers complete the comeback, the Trail Blazers tightened the game defensively and delivered their most complete quarter at the right time. Holding Los Angeles to 13 points in the final period was the clearest sign of that control.

Closing context

With the win, Portland improved to 41-40 and matched the Clippers’ overall record, adding weight to the Western Conference race as the regular season nears its finish. The Trail Blazers also moved to 23-17 at home, while Los Angeles dropped to 19-22 on the road. In a crowded standings picture, a result like this could matter well beyond one night.

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