Avdija erupts for 35 as Trail Blazers pull away from Clippers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Deni Avdija scored 35 points, Donovan Clingan had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-97 on Friday night to take the inside track for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

If Portland beats the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the Blazers will secure their spot in the 7-8 play-in game on Tuesday in Phoenix against the Suns.

Robert Williams III had 13 points and 10 rebounds as Portland outrebounded the Clippers 46-35 and won the turnover battle despite leading the league in turnovers.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds.

After Portland took a 55-35 first-half lead, the Clippers stormed back. Jordan Miller’s 3-pointer gave the Clippers their first lead since the first quarter at 82-79 with 2:05 left in the third. But the lead was short-lived as Matisse Thybulle tied it at 82 on Portland’s next possession.

After the Clippers took an 88-86 lead with 11:06 left, Jrue Holiday tied the game at 88 with free throws and Williams gave Portland a 90-88 lead with 10:31 left.

Williams scored on a dunk with 8:22 left to make it 92-88, forcing a timeout. Leonard missed a jumper out of the timeout and Avdija’s 3-point play made it 95-88 with 7:41 left.

Avdija made two foul shots to make it 99-90 with 4:51 left. Brook Lopez's 3-pointer with 4:36 left made it 99-93. Portland’s Toumani Camara made it 101-93 on Portland’s next possession. Lopez was called for a technical foul with 3:26 left and Avdija made the shot to make it 104-93.

Avdija hit a 3-pointer with 2:41 left to make it 109-93 and Portland never looked back.

Portland's Shaedon Sharpe returned after missing the last 28 games and finished with eight points in 15 minutes.

Clippers: Host the Warriors on Saturday.

Trail Blazers: Host the Kings on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Matisse Thybulle (4) looks to get past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez reacts after making a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) tries to get past Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been reelected for a sixth term after official results showed him winning 97.81% of the vote in Friday's election.

Guelleh, 78, has ruled the small Horn of Africa nation of about 1 million for more than two decades.

He faced a single challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member, in a race analysts say offers little genuine competition. Opposition groups frequently boycott elections, citing restrictions on political freedoms.

Djibouti's incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh casts his vote at the City Hall polling station during the presidential election in Mouloud, Djibouti, Friday, April 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Guirreh Moumin)