LOS ANGELES _ In a game that rapidly got out of control in the second half, a game that had four technical fouls, one flagrant foul and two ejections, the Los Angeles Clippers escaped with a 121-120 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at Staples Center.
It took three free throws by J.J. Redick in the final eight seconds for the Clippers to overcome a mad dash to the finish line by the Trail Blazers that included a three-pointer by Damian Lillard that made the game too close for comfort for L.A.
The Clippers and Trail Blazers have a history from a playoff series that Portland won last April, and it has carried over to this season.
"I obviously didn't think we played great," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "But it was a win. We'll take that."
The Clippers have won six consecutive regular-season games against the Trail Blazers, who have lost four in a row overall.
Blake Griffin, who sat out Saturday's victory over the New Orleans Pelicans because of a sore right knee, returned to score 26 points to go along with 12 rebounds and six assists.
Raymond Felton, back after missing the last two games attending his grandmother's funeral, had 10 points and played good defense.
The game then turned physical and emotional in the fourth quarter.
Chris Paul was called for a flagrant foul on Allen Crabbe.
Portland coach Terry Stotts was hit with a technical foul with 4:14 left for arguing about a foul called on C.J. McCollum, who fouled Redick as Redick was shooting a three-pointer.
Mason Plumee was called for a technical foul for elbowing the face of Griffin, who had fouled the Portland center on the play late in the fourth quarter.
When Felton played good defense on Lillard and forced him into a missed awkward shot, Paul got the rebound. Paul (21 points, 14 assists) made two free throws for a 118-113 Clippers lead with 18.1 seconds left.
Yet, the game still didn't end without some trash-talking and pushing and shoving.
After DeAndre Jordan fouled Lillard on a drive, Portland reserve Evan Turner shoved the Clippers center, which led to Jordan pointing his finger at Turner.
Turner kept slapping Jordan's finger away and Jordan kept pointing it at Turner, who just slapped it away again.
After a review by the officials, the referees called a double-technical foul on Jordan and Turner and both players were ejected with 11.5 seconds left.
Lillard (24 points) made both free throws, but the Clippers looked to be in control holding a 118-115 lead.
But Griffin lost control of the ball, turning it over with 9.5 seconds left, giving the Trail Blazers one more opportunity.
Rather than let the Trail Blazers get off a three-point attempt, Felton fouled McCollum in the backcourt. McCollum made both free throws to close the Clippers' lead to 118-117 with 7.9 seconds remaining.
Portland's mistake was McCollum fouling Redick before the ball was inbounded. Redick made the free throw and the Clippers got the ball back.
He made two more free throws with 6.5 seconds left for a 121-117 Clippers lead that still wasn't safe because Lillard made a three-pointer to cut that lead to one point with 1.7 seconds left.
