Donovan\u00a0Clingan and his Portland Trail Blazers jumped all over the Washington Wizards Sunday evening, surging to a 23-10 lead at the\u00a0Moda Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clingan scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in the first half as Portland continued to cruise, so during the intermission, the 7-foot-2 center’s mind briefly drifted back toward his home state of Connecticut.\u00a0UConn men’s basketball<\/a> was locked in an all-time Elite Eight contest with Duke, and he peeked over toward a security guard’s phone in time to watch Braylon Mullins drill a legendary 35-foot heave<\/a>, sending Clingan’s former program back to the Final Four.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Big time shot by a big time player,” Clingan said about Mullins’ shot during a post-game locker room interview. “We’re back where we belong.” Clingan later added that he held up the 3-point signal and fist-pumped in the air after watching the shot go in, later helping the Blazers secure a 123-88 win.<\/p>\n UConn eliminated UCLA, whose alumni includes Clingan’s teammate Jrue Holiday. Clingan said there was a little bit of trash-talking.<\/p>\n Clingan was asked what he means to see the Huskies back in the Final Four.<\/p>\n “It means a lot,” he said. “Just shows the program that we are, one of the best programs in the country. Back where we belong.”<\/p>\n Clingan said he received a call\u00a0from his former teammate and roommate Alex Karaban.<\/p>\n “But we were still playing,” Clingan said. “So I’ve got to call him back. … I’m going to tell him, good job but the job is not done yet.”<\/p>\n