Blazers 82, Clippers 80 - Portland blew a 14 point lead in Staples Center one night after blowing a 15 point lead on the very same court. This time they were playing the Clippers, so things worked out OK. Los Angeles managed a pathetic 29 points in the first half, but did make a noble effort in the second. Corey Maggette was hot with 32 points, but missed a big shot with eight ticks left.......

I told people not to overlook the Portland Trail Blazers. Historically they have played the Lakers really tough. Even though the Blazers were 32-50 last season, they won the season series against the Lakers last season. So there they were in the first quarter being run out of the Staples Center by the Blazers down 15 points. The Blazers seemed run their offensive sets as if they were in practice, and the Lakers couldn’t get......

Lakers 96, Blazers 83 - Portland made their first 21 free throws so, um, they got that going for them. Otherwise is was show time in Staples Center, with Kobe pouring in 30 along with 21 from Jordan Farmar (equaling a career high) and 15 from insta-hero Pau Gasol. The bearded big man added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Animal style. Los Angeles has won nine in a row and is looking ridiculously good (not......

Celtics 104, Clippers 76 - The NBA's top team won last night in the Staples Center, and it wasn't the Lakers. Boston, now an NBA-best 43-12, was just too much for the Clippers. Chris Kaman sat out once again, dropping LA's record to 1-6 without the big man in their lineup. Sam Cassell was also injured and watched from the bench. Kevin Garnett, one of five Celtics to hit double digits, was recently named by......

Ducks 2, Bruins 1 - After managing just one win in five road games to start the season, the defending Stanley Cup Champions returned home on Wednesday to take care of some business. Boston led from the first minute until a third-period comeback, when the Anaheim looked a little more like their championship form. Dallas 5, Kings 1 - This was familiar. Dallas swept the season series 8-0 last year, and maintained their form into......

Hornets 86, Clippers 83 - Sports fans talk about "meaningless games" towards the end of the regular season. Those are contests held after a team is already in or out of the playoffs and seeding isn't a major issue. It's a common indicator of an exciting team in baseball. In this year's NBA playoff chase, the Clippers didn't play a single meaningless game. They did play roughly one meaningless quarter. Despite taking a solid lead......

It all comes down to this. One night. A grueling, six-month season, all decided in 48 minutes on the court. Unfortunately for the Clippers, the court in question will be the Rose Garden in Portland, where the Golden St. Warriors play the Blazers. A win for the Warriors and they advance to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. A loss opens the door for the Clips to potentially sneak in if they......

So a guy goes to a bar with a bunch of his buddies. Let’s call him Elton. He hasn’t historically had a lot of success with the ladies, but the last time he visited this bar, things worked out really well for him. He and his buddies have been making the rounds, working the room and evaluating the talent. Some of his buddies, like Tim, Steve, and Tracy, are getting play almost immediately. Meanwhile, Elton......

Gators 76, Bruins 66 - Florida spoiled UCLA's championship hopes a round earlier than last year. After a low scoring first half, the Gators opened up fast in the second. The Bruins couldn't maintain the pace and were barely averaging a point per minute well into the second. All American Arron Afflalo was scoreless in the first half and finished with 17. Afflalo fouled out, as did Lorenzo Mata and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.......

Lakers 116, Blazers 111, OT - Maybe he's got a chip on his shoulder because he never played college ball and everybody's talking about March Madness. Maybe he's angry about all those NBA suspensions and the so-called witch hunt. Either way, Kobe was on fire with 65 points in the Laker's OT victory over Portland. The second highest point total in his career propelled Los Angeles to its first win in their last eight games......

Tonight - Friday - March 16th, 2007 College Basketball: Arizona vs. Purdue (CBS, 4:00 p.m.) College Basketball: Arkansas vs. USC (CBS, 6:30 p.m.) Trail Blazers @ Lakers (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Take the Money and Run (TCM, 6:45 p.m.) Bumbling bank thief, Woody Allen, is released from prison and continues his crime spree (1969) 20/20 (ABC, 9:55 p.m.) Bawbwa talks to Venezuelan Prez Hugo Chavez Larry King Live (CNN, 9:00 p.m.) thighmistress Suzanne Somers,......

Trailblazers 112, Lakers 108 - When your best player wins the All Star MVP award and a guy from the bench scores 23, things should be clicking. Instead, the Lakers lost their sixth in a row. This is the longest loosing streak in Phil Jackson's career. When he joined the Lakers in 1999 there was a distant memory of a five game loosing streak with the Bulls. He added another five game streak last season.......

A Word Or 30: Who else is waiting to hear the announcement of the Anna Nicole Smith Story film deal? Jaime Pressly presents us tonight, with the first reason to watch Leno in years. Tonight - Wednesday - February 21st, 2007 That Touch of Mink (TCM, 6:30 p.m.) Cary Grant wants to get hot n' heavy with Doris Day. Trail Blazers @ Lakers (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Jericho (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Back from hiatus.......

Last Night Summary: So 50 Cent cancelled his appearance on Conan a couple hours before the show because he felt he was coming down with a cold? Stern and Gaffigan were good as usual on Conan. Also: "The Office" was fantastic; I was amazed at how long Colbert allowed his druggie guest to ramble; kid scientists on Letterman were typically cute and funny and I'm hoping for a new set of stupid human tricks......

Current Record: 2-1, T-2nd Pacific Last Week: The Clippers rebounded from a disappointing opening-night loss to Phoenix by knocking off Denver and taking out the Suns in the rematch. Sam Cassell showed that he still has plenty of gas left in his tank at 37, leading the team in scoring and taking all of the big shots down the stretch. Newly acquired Tim Thomas displayed the same form he had in last year’s playoffs......

"Monday Night Football" (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.) (the former LA) Raiders @ Seattle "NHL Hockey" (Fox Sports, 7:00 p.m.) Penguins @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) Trail Blazers @ Clippers "Deal or No Deal" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) I don't care how many girls they got in this show, how could you possibly watch it for an hour? "American Experience" (PBS, 9:00 p.m.) Finally one about California - the Gold Rush starts in 1848 when......

FRIDAY • The Henry Fonda Theater features Lucinda Williams tonight at 9 PM. Tickets are $32. • Alt country singer Mary Gauthier performs at McCabe's Guitar Shop at 8 PM. Tickets are $16. • Paloalto, 31 Knots and Ringer perform tonight at Spaceland. Doors open at 9 PM. • The Blazers, Carlos Guitarlos and Phil Alvin are on stage at The Echo at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $10. [18+] • Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds......

FRIDAY • Robbie Fulks and special guest Randy Weeks play at McCabe's Guitar Shop at 8 PM. Tickets are $16. • The Dead 60s, Drunk Horse and Morningwood perform at Spaceland at 9 PM. • Carlos Guitarlos, Mike Stinson and The Blazers play at The Echo at 8:30 PM. Admission is $10. [18+] • Lion Fever, LKN and Pink Grenade hit the stage at El Cid tonight. Cover is $5. • Billy Zoom, Hellbound......

According to ESPN.com, Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski is in "serious discussions" with the Lakers about their head coaching vacancy. Jim Gray added on SportsCenter that Mitch Kupchak (a North Carolina alum) was in the Tar Heel State today visiting Krzyzewski and has offered him the job. The move is something of a shock. It had been reported for weeks that Rudy Tomjanovich was the front-runner for the job. Today, the LA Times added......