(Photo by Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports Images)

Prayers were answered, just not for the good guys.

It was night of fatigue and cement legs for both squads in the Staples Center on Thursday night. Despite a spirited effort and even the promise of victory within grasp, Portland, once again, felt the sting that comes from another last-second defeat.

This time, it was at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers who win on a buzzer-beater 96-94. The Blazers fall to 37-36, while the Clippers improve to 44-27.

It is safe to say that both of these teams have had interesting matches. Starting with C.J. McCollum being forced to not play due to him not being on the active roster in an earlier game. It leads to a physical and rough style that comes out of both teams. It could be that head coach Terry Stotts utilizes the hack-a-Jordan rule, but at a base level, these teams get into interesting tilts, for better or worse.

Tonight was no different. There was no miscommunication on the roster nor was there any exterior circumstance that would change the outcome, for the most part. It was finally going to be a game that featured even matches. With Blake Griffin still out for the Clippers, they were down a potent scorer and a cog in their offense.

At the start of the game, it seemed like it was going to take a miracle for any team to score consistently. With 7:09 remaining in the first quarter, the Clippers took an 8-6 lead. A team did not achieve double-digits in scoring until the 7:01 mark.

It was obvious in how the shots looked and where they were taken. A lot of long jumpers and three-pointers were short or rolled off the side of the rim. Furthermore, there seemed to be more frustration when contact was not awarded with foul shots as both sides seemed ragged and run down from the start. It should come as no shock as the Clippers took on the Golden State Warriors in Golden State and the Blazers were taking on the Mavericks in Portland.

In a sense, both teams started running on fumes, it was a game of riding the immediate hot hand and treating field goals as gold rather than taking them for granted.

Each run gave in spurts and seemed to be devastating. The Clippers took a seven-point lead in the second quarter, but it seemed like twenty. With Portland’s backcourt of McCollum and Damian Lillard scoring just nine points in the first half, it was boggling to see the Blazers down by just seven at halftime.

While Portland was 1-of-13 from three-point range in the first half, the Clippers were having their own struggles, going 1-of-8. That kept the game as close as it was and as sloppy as it was.

It seemed the Blazers got a bit of pep in their step in the third quarter, but mostly from the foul line. Mason Plumlee, McCollum and Lillard combined to go 3-of-11 from the field, but 10-of-13 from the line. The Blazers would convert on 11-of-14 attempts from the line, while the Clippers attempted just two. Portland earned their way back to a five-point lead, but it never seemed to be enough. Jamal Crawford swished a three-pointer and then made a 20-footer to help the Clippers retake the lead.

Portland was able to gain leads, but never keep them for long. It all culminated in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter where the stage was set for another late-game showdown. The fourth quarter was the best quarter shooting-wise for the Blazers, who shot 48 percent from the field, but still 29 percent from three. However, the Clippers would shoot 50 percent mostly thanks to Crawford dropping 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the quarter.

Portland would take a late six-point lead with 2:11 remaining, but like many of their leads, it quickly evaporated. DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul finally connected on a lob and Crawford went to work and swished a two-footer. With a missed Allen Crabbe three-pointer, it was another one of those moments for Portland.

It bit them as an offensive rebound turned into a three-pointer that swished for Crawford to give the Clippers a one-point lead with 0:51 remaining. Lillard would emerge from his struggles and swish a tough jumper and complete the three-point play to give the Blazers a two point lead once again. Mo Harkless would then foul Paul, somewhat mistakenly and the game was tied up at 91.

With 0:23 remaining, Lillard dribbled down the court and made a wild three-point shot that soared over two defenders and gave the Blazers a three-point lead. With just enough time for the Clippers to attempt one shot, it seemed like Portland was in good position.

Crawford would then attempt a 29-foot high-arching prayer of a three-pointer from the top of the key that would go in to tie the game up at 94-94 with 0:11 remaining.

After a suboptimal last possession for the Blazers as Harkless drove into the lane with three Clippers and attempted to get a lay-up that was easily swatted away, the Clippers had 1.1 seconds to get a shot off. It turned out to be enough. J.J. Redick, Portland’s Achilles heel, had scored just nine points in the first three quarters, but came off a screen and curling he hoisted up a jumper from the right wing that sailed in and the game was over.

Not more last attempt by the Blazers and no more possessions, simply over leaving the Blazers to walk off the court pondering what could have been.

With so many late-game losses, it almost becomes familiar. However, with this team has played after the all-star break, the stinging feeling had all but gone away. It returned and not at a good time.

McCollum finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 1-of-4 from three with six assists and four steals.

Lillard finished with 18 points on 4-of-16 shooting, 2-of-8 from three with eight assists and one steal. Lillard sprained both ankles during this match and would not be surprised if his plantar fasciitis acted up. Couple that with fatigue and Lillard was pushing through a lot.

Crabbe, returned to his slump recording just seven points on 2-of-11 shooting, 2-of-5 from three.

Overshadowed by the loss was the play of Ed Davis, who picked up right where he left off finishing with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with eight rebounds and two steals in just 22 minutes.

The Blazers will have a day off before taking on the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PST. Portland’s next four games will be at home and an opportunity to gain some much-needed victories as they still hang on to the sixth seed.

Stay tuned!