NBA: Clippers add to Warriors’ road struggles
FILE – Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers waits for a free throw during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on February 02, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Clippers 106-105. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP
Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 24 as the Los Angeles Clippers ended a two-game losing skid with a 134-124 victory Tuesday over the visiting Golden State Warriors.
All-Star Paul George scored 20 points with eight assists as the Clippers won at home for the first time since Jan. 26, while improving to 1-1 against the Warriors this season.
Mason Plumlee (eight points) Eric Gordon (seven) and Bones Hyland (six) all took the court with the Clippers for the first time since they were acquired in trades last week.
Kawhi Leonard (33 PTS on 12-17 FGM) ties a career high with 7 threes in the @LAClippers win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tokJRn466h
— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2023
Jordan Poole scored 28 points and Kevon Looney added 11 points with 14 rebounds as Golden State enters the All-Star break having lost three of its past four games. The Warriors fell to 7-22 on the road this season and are the only playoff or play-in qualifying team with single-digit road victories.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored 18 points while playing on consecutive days for the first time this season, while Jonathan Kuminga scored 16 points and Draymond Green had 15.
The Warriors were without star Stephen Curry, who missed his fifth consecutive game because of a left leg injury, with Golden State now 2-3 since he has been out. Curry will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
With Leonard back after a one-game rest for load management, the Clippers took a 10-point lead in the first quarter and held a 31-23 advantage at the end of the opening period. The Warriors roared back to shoot 61.9 percent from the field in the second quarter and take a 65-61 lead into halftime.
The Clippers regained control by scoring 44 points and shooting 62.5 percent from the field in the third quarter to take a 105-93 lead into the final period.
Los Angeles opened a 113-95 lead with 10:19 remaining after a 3-pointer from Gordon and cruised home. Terance Mann had 16 points for the Clippers.
It was the first of three meetings in four weeks between the teams in a stretch that will complete the season series.
