01/09/26 09:12:00
Printable Page
01/09 21:10 CST Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets
121-105
Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- James Harden scored 31 points, Kawhi Leonard had 26 and the
Los Angeles Clippers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-105 on Friday night.
Reserve guard Jordan Miller made his first six shots and added 21 points. John
Collins had 16 for the Clippers, who bounced back from their loss to the New
York Knicks on Wednesday to win for the eighth time in 10 games. Leonard,
questionable earlier in the day with a sprained right ankle, started slowly but
had 19 points in the second half.
Rookie guard Egor Demin scored 19 points for the Nets, who lost on a
buzzer-beater in overtime against Orlando on Wednesday. But it was quickly
clear this one would never be close.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled to 18 points, missing all nine 3-point attempts.
The Clippers scored the first eight points, and after Nic Claxton made two free
throws, Harden scored the next six in an 8-0 run that made it 16-2. Demin made
a 3-pointer to snap Brooklyn's 0-for-8 start, but then Leonard and Harden
scored to make the Clippers 8 for 9 and give them a 21-5 lead.
The Clippers opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to make it 45-25 on
former Nets center Brook Lopez's three-point play. Los Angeles led by 22 before
taking a 63-47 halftime lead.
The Nets, playing four of their five first-round draft picks, often had at
least one rookie on the floor and it appeared Harden was looking to punish any
of them who had to guard him. The three-time NBA scoring champion shot 10 for
13, and when the Nets started sending a second defender at him, he found the
open man and finished with six assists.
Brooklyn outscored Los Angeles 11-4 to start the third quarter and get back
within single digits, but Leonard made a 3-pointer and the lead remained in
double digits the rest of the way.
Up next
Clippers: Visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
Nets: Visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
|
