Los Angeles Clippers seek 5th straight road win against Portland Trail Blazers

The Clippers look to extend their road winning streak as they face the Trail Blazers in Portland.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 6:06am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, capturing the intensity and energy of the matchup.The Clippers and Trail Blazers clash in a crucial late-season Western Conference matchup, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Clippers (41-39) will visit the Portland Trail Blazers (40-40) on Friday night, with the Clippers seeking their fifth consecutive road victory. The Clippers have been led by Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, have been paced by Deni Avdija, who is scoring 24 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

Why it matters

This matchup between the eighth-place Clippers and ninth-place Trail Blazers in the Western Conference standings is crucial, as both teams are fighting for playoff positioning in the tight Western Conference race.

The details

The Clippers have been on a roll on the road, winning their last four games away from home. They will look to continue that streak against a Trail Blazers team that has been solid at home, going 27-23 in Western Conference games. The Clippers' defense will be tested by the Trail Blazers' high-powered offense, which is averaging 115.4 points per game and shooting 45.3% from the field.

  • The game will tip off at 10 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 9, 2026.
  • The teams have met three times already this season, with the Trail Blazers winning the last matchup 114-104 on April 1.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game this season.

Deni Avdija

The Trail Blazers' leading scorer is averaging 24 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a talented Clippers team that has been playing well on the road. Our offense will need to be clicking to keep up with their scoring punch.”

— Chauncey Billups, Trail Blazers Head Coach

“This is a big game for us as we try to improve our playoff positioning. We've been playing well defensively, and we'll need that effort to slow down the Trail Blazers' high-powered offense.”

— Tyronn Lue, Clippers Head Coach

What’s next

The Clippers and Trail Blazers will meet again on April 12 in Los Angeles, in what could be a crucial late-season matchup between the two Western Conference playoff contenders.

The takeaway

This game between the Clippers and Trail Blazers features two teams fighting for position in the tight Western Conference playoff race. The Clippers' road success and the Trail Blazers' high-powered offense make for an intriguing matchup, with both teams looking to gain an edge in the standings.