Legitimate postseason potential always seemed to be a year or so away, but when the Portland Trail Blazers muddied 2024-25’s Western Conference’s Play-In picture, one go-to specialty often proved fittingly key: lockdown defense. Anchor of it all along the interior, Donovan Clingan waves goodbye to Karl-Anthony Towns’ hook shot attempt, mixing force with a hint of gentleness on a block that allows a teammate to rebound and pivot into transition. Ensured of at least one highlight already, Clingan turns it into a sequence, emerging from a crowded-as-can-be pick-and-roll with a somewhat-open rim path, and ultimately, an alley-oop flush. No. 1 among first-year producers in blocks — and No. 7 overall — Clingan blended his gifts into a productive outing, even in a one-point, last-second heartbreaker at the hands of the New York Knicks. The traditional box score included a six-point, 12-rebound, one-assist, three-block effort for Clingan, alongside 19 contested shots and nine “screen assists” on the play-by-play tracking side. · Mar 13, 2025