KAWHI Leonard scored 10 of his 36 points in the final five minutes to help the visiting Los Angeles Clippers hold off the Atlanta Hawks 149-144 on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) and extend their winning streak to four games.
Leonard, named the Western Conference’s Player of the Week earlier in the day, put the Clippers ahead with a putback basket at 4:52, then provided separation with six points over back-to-back possessions–a three-point play followed by a 3-pointer. He was 13-for-20 from the field with five 3-pointers.
James Harden scored 30 points, hitting six 3-pointers, and was 10-for-10 from the free-throw line with eight rebounds and 10 assists.
Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter matched his season high with 27 points. Trae Young, named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, had 25 points and 12 assists, and Dejounte Murray scored 21. Atlanta had its four-game winning streak snapped.
In other games, it was the Pelicans 138, Raptors 100; Mavs 118, Sixers 102; Lakers 124, Hornets 118; Warriors 109, Nets 98; and Cavs 136, Kings 110.
Pelicans 138, Raptors 100
Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 41 points and host New Orleans dominated from start to finish in a victory over sliding Toronto.
Ingram made 16 of 21 field-goal attempts, 8 of 11 3-pointers and added nine assists in just three quarters. CJ McCollum scored 20 points, Zion Williamson had 16, Jose Alvarado had 11 and Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who recorded their largest margin of victory this season.
Gradey Dick scored a career-high 22 points, Scottie Barnes had 17 and Jakob Poeltl added 14 to lead the Raptors, who lost for the eighth time in nine games and for the 12th time in 14 games.
Mavs 118, Sixers 102
Kyrie Irving returned from a six-game absence due to a sprained right thumb to score 23 points as Dallas defeated host Philadelphia.
Josh Green added 20 points, Luka Doncic contributed 19, Jaden Hardy scored 17 and Grant Williams and Maxi Kleber had 14 apiece. Jason Kidd recorded his 300th career victory as an NBA coach.
Philadelphia played without reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who is expected to undergo surgery on the lateral meniscus in his left knee later this week. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 19 points, Tobias Harris scored 17 and Tyrese Maxey had 15 on 6-of-16 shooting. Mo Bamba hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
