Kawhi Leonard delivered a career-high 55 points to match the franchise record and the Los Angeles Clippers used a seasoned starting lineup to earn a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif., and extend their winning streak to a season-high four games.
James Harden scored 28 points and Nicolas Batum added 12 as the Clippers won their third consecutive home game following a run of eight consecutive losses in their own building.
With multiple absences, Los Angeles started three players age 36 or over in Harden, Brook Lopez and Batum. Adding Leonard, the Clippers became the first team since 2016 with four starters at least 34 years in age. Leonard looked as young as ever with 26 points in the third quarter alone while going 17 of 26 from the floor in the game. He added 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots He also made five treys.
Harden set the franchise mark of 55 points just last month against the Charlotte Hornets. He set the mark in a 131-116 win on Nov. 22. Cade Cunningham scored 27 points, all in the second half, and Jalen Duren added 18 for the Pistons, who lost consecutive games for just the second time this season after falling at Utah on Friday.
Raptors 141, Warriors 127 (OT)
Scottie Barnes recorded his seventh career triple-double, and Toronto dominated overtime to defeat visiting Golden State.
Barnes had 23 points, a career-best 25 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Raptors rally from a 13-point third-quarter deficit. It was the first 20-20 triple-double ever recorded by Toronto player. The Raptors scored the first 10 points of overtime in winning the opener of a five-game homestand.
Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley scored 27 points and Brandon Ingram added 26. RJ Barrett contributed 12 points on his return after missing 15 games with a sprained right knee. Stephen Curry scored 39 points for the Warriors, who had a three-game winning streak end in the opener of a three-game road trip. Draymond Green added 21 points.
Trail Blazers 114, Celtics 108
Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points and Deni Avdija added 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help Portland stun Boston and snap a three-game losing streak.
Toumani Camara scored 20 points and Donovan Clingan recorded 18 points and 18 rebounds. Caleb Love scored 18 off the bench as the Trail Blazers also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Celtics by scoring the final five points of the game.
Jaylen Brown had 37 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics, who saw a four-game winning streak end. Brown has scored at least 30 in all nine of his appearances this month. Hugo Gonzalez and former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons added 13 points apiece for Boston.
Thunder 129, 76ers 104
Chet Holmgren scored 29 points as Oklahoma City snapped a two-game skid, its first losing streak of the season, with a home win over Philadelphia.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 27 points and five assists with just one turnover while Aaron Wiggins scored 15 off the bench and starter Jalen Williams added 14 for the Thunder.
The 76ers were without Joel Embiid, who missed the game with a right ankle sprain and right knee injury management. Embiid had played in the previous two games. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, but 15 came in the first quarter and just five came in the second half. No other 76ers player finished with more than 13 points. Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe combined to go just 3 of 16 from the field after halftime.
Wizards 116, Grizzlies 112
Alex Sarr had 20 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six blocks, while CJ McCollum added 16 points to lead Washington to its first consecutive victories of the season with a win over visiting Memphis.
Sarr and McCollum were supported by Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly and Marvin Bagley III, who scored 14 points apiece. Justin Champagnie added 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Bub Carrington contributed 12 points and seven assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with a season-high-tying 31 points to go along with eight rebounds and four blocks. Ja Morant finished with 21 points and seven assists, and Santi Aldama had 14 points, 10 boards and five steals. The already injury-ravaged Grizzlies also lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a hamstring injury.
Lakers 125, Kings 101
Luka Doncic scored 34 points and Los Angeles ended a three-game skid with a win over visiting Sacramento.
Doncic hit five 3-pointers, while also chalking up seven assists and three steals. LeBron James posted 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, while Nick Smith Jr. added 21 off the bench, including five 3-pointers. James’ night ended early when he hurt his right lower back in a collision with DeMar DeRozan, exiting the game with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, a concern for the Lakers who are without Austin Reaves for at least a month with a left calf injury.
DeRozan had 22 points for the Kings, while Maxime Raynaud paired 16 points with 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook contributed 13 points.
–Field Level Media
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