Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the LA Clippers went on an 11-2 run in the third quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-107.
It was tied at 76 when James Harden’s 2 free throws put the Clippers ahead for good with 5:02 left in the third quarter. He scored 7 points as they pulled away to an 87-78 lead with 49 seconds left in the quarter.
The Trail Blazers got within 87-84 on Blake Wesley’s 19-foot pull-up jumper with 11:46 to play, but Chris Paul answered with a 3-pointer, and the Trail Blazers got no closer than 90-85.
In the fourth quarter, Leonard had 2 steals, and the Clippers scored 2 points off them.
Ivica Zubac had 21 points (18 in the paint) and 8 rebounds. Harden added 20 points, 13 assists and 3 steals, and John Collins scored 16 points (12 in the paint) on 7 for 8 shooting off the bench. The Clippers had 3 20-point scorers.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija scored 23 points, and Shaedon Sharpe went 1 for 9 from 3. Jrue Holiday had 21 points and 7 assists. Donovan Clingan had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
The Clippers shot 55.0% from the field and 38.7% from 3 to the Trail Blazers’ 37.0% and 26.8%. The Trail Blazers outscored the Clippers 29-10 on the fast break.