Norman Powell revenge game leads Clippers to comeback win vs. Blazers

His Clippers won after being down 18 points late in the third quarter, a comeback that started when Powell drove for a layup. Starting with that play, LA outscored Portland 45-21 in the final 15 minutes.

Toronto traded Powell to Portland at the trade deadline in 2021. After the season, Powell committed to his new team, signing a new five-year contract in August. But the Blazers didn't commit to him, sending Powell to the Clippers in a multi-year deal less than six months later.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters he thought Powell was too excited to get back at Portland early on.

"When you get traded from somewhere you want to play well against them, Lue said. "I thought he was a little too excited in the first half."

It's easy to criticize players who force trades after signing a long-term deal. But when teams immediately trade a player who chose them over 29 other teams in free agency, that's just business.

Powell seems to have taken it personally, at least based on his postgame interview. "Stormin' Norman" was so charged up he accidentally let a curse word fly.

Robert Covington was also traded in the same deal, and he scored 15 points off the bench. Former Blazer Nic Batum, traded away in 2015, only scored three points, but he was a game-high +22 in his 25 minutes (Powell was +17 and Covington was +10).

While Anfernee Simons made nine three-pointers and scored 37 points, it wasn't enough for the win. Like an NBA version of A Christmas Carol, Portland was haunted by the Ghosts of Blazers Past.