KAWHI Leonard scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Oklahoma City 108-101 on Sunday (Monday in Manila) for their seventh consecutive victory and second straight over the Thunder.
Serge Ibaka added 17 points. At 13-4, the Clippers are tied with the Lakers for the best record in the NBA. Leonard’s total was one off his season-high to go with nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 31 points in LA’s 14-point win over the Thunder on Friday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 23 points against his former team, and George Hill added 22 points. Oklahoma City has lost three in a row and five of six.
Hill hit three straight three-pointers for the Thunder after they trailed by 17 in the fourth. Reggie Jackson turned the ball over and Luguentz Dort fed Gilgeous-Alexander for a dunk that capped 11 consecutive points and cut their deficit to 102-96.
Leonard dunked to stop the Thunder’s run. Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled inside and scored, getting the Thunder back within six. Oklahoma City was forced to foul in the closing seconds and Jackson made four of six free throws to close it out.
The Thunder hung around in the third, cutting their deficit to 72-67. But Leonard hit a three-pointer and another basket, quickly restoring the Clippers’ lead to double digits. They were bolstered by Jackson’s 10 points, including eight in a row after he started the second half.
The Thunder fell behind by 17 points in the first half and rallied to close within eight three times in the second quarter. Leonard hit a three-pointer that sent the Clippers into halftime leading 56-45. (AP)
