Leonard, George score 29 apiece as Clippers rally in fourth quarter to defeat Raptors 126-120
LOS ANGELES (AP) On a night when Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points after agreeing to a three-year contract extension earlier in the day and the Los Angeles Clippers won for the seventh time in the past eight games, coach Tyronn Lue and the rest of his squad were far from pleased after a 126-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
With the Clippers having perhaps its most talented roster in franchise history, Lue has an eye on what it is going to take in the playoffs if they want to get to the NBA Finals for the first time.
And now that James Harden has meshed with a core that includes Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the expectations are beginning to get higher.
“I think half of it is great talent, and I think half of it is execution, and we got to be 100% execution with our talent, and that makes for a dangerous team," Lue said. "When you get to the playoffs it’s a whole different animal, and so we've got to start building those habits. We’re doing it a little bit at a time, but we gotta start progressing a little bit more as far as being better with our execution and what we’re trying to do.”
Leonard, who also had three rebounds and seven assists, agreed with this coach's assessment.
“I think we got a lot to improve, you know, just like tonight," he said. "They were pretty good at getting whatever they wanted, started getting to the free throw line. Those guys did a good job of pushing the pace, getting into the paint, as well as knocking down the 3-point shots. I mean, tonight felt like we were in mud a little bit, moving a little slow, no communication."
George added 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, as the Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter.
It was the fifth time this season George and Leonard both scored at least 25 points in the same game.
Immanuel Quickley paced the Raptors with 25 points, RJ Barrett added 24 and Dennis Schroder had 22 as Toronto fell in Crypto.Com Arena for the second straight night after a one-point loss to the Lakers on Tuesday.
The Raptors were missing Pascal Siakam due to back spasms. Toronto has split its six games since acquiring Barrett and Quickley from the New York Knicks.
“I felt that we are really competing against a really good team. Our guys gave 110% of all their abilities today and we stayed in the game all the way to the end," Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. "A couple of missed opportunities to do a better job in the rotations, to take away a couple of layups and a couple opportunities for us where we created a lot of easy shots around the rim that did not go our way."
James Harden (14 points, 11 assists) and Ivica Zubac (12 points, 11 rebounds) both had double-doubles as the Clippers improved to an NBA-best 16-3 since Dec. 1.
The Clippers trailed 92-89 with 28 seconds remaining in the third quarter before they went on a 22-9 run over a five-minute span during the third and fourth quarters. George had seven points during the run.
Toronto rallied back with a 10-2 spurt to get within 121-118, but George made a 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining to help the Clippers hold on.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Wrap up a six-game trip at Utah on Friday night.
Clippers: At Memphis on Friday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Scottie Barnes vs. Ivica Zubac (Kawhi Leonard gains possession) | |||
11:44 | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 0-3 | |
11:25 | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point cutting layup (RJ Barrett assists) | 2-3 | |
11:01 | James Harden misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
10:58 | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | +2 | Thaddeus Young makes two point jump shot (Scottie Barnes assists) | 4-3 | |
10:22 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point turnaround hook shot (James Harden assists) | 4-5 | |
9:59 | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point bank jump shot (Dennis Schroder assists) | 6-5 | |
9:35 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 6-7 | |
9:22 | Scottie Barnes misses three point jump shot | |||
9:19 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | Paul George misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:56 | Dennis Schroder defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point turnaround jump shot (Dennis Schroder assists) | 8-7 | |
8:29 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point jump shot | |||
8:23 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
8:23 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point putback dunk | 8-9 | |
8:19 | RJ Barrett turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
8:04 | Ivica Zubac offensive foul (Charge) (Thaddeus Young draws the foul) | |||
8:04 | Ivica Zubac turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:45 | Immanuel Quickley misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:41 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:28 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
7:28 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 8-11 | |
7:28 | RJ Barrett shooting foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
7:28 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-12 | |
7:12 | Thaddeus Young turnover (lost ball) (Paul George steals) | |||
6:59 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:56 | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | |||
6:44 | +3 | RJ Barrett makes three point jump shot (Scottie Barnes assists) | 11-12 | |
6:43 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
6:37 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point driving layup (Paul George assists) | 11-14 | |
6:22 | +2 | Jontay Porter makes two point alley-oop layup (Scottie Barnes assists) | 13-14 | |
5:57 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point driving hook shot (Paul George assists) | 13-16 | |
5:43 | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point driving layup (Scottie Barnes assists) | 15-16 | |
5:33 | Jontay Porter shooting foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
5:33 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-17 | |
5:33 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-18 | |
5:15 | RJ Barrett misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:13 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
5:07 | Russell Westbrook misses two point running layup | |||
5:04 | Jontay Porter defensive rebound | |||
4:58 | RJ Barrett misses three point jump shot | |||
4:54 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
4:49 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point running layup | 15-20 | |
4:33 | Scottie Barnes misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:31 | Clippers defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | RJ Barrett personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
4:15 | Gary Trent Jr. personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
4:06 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 15-22 | |
3:52 | Kawhi Leonard blocks Immanuel Quickley's two point driving layup | |||
3:52 | Raptors offensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Jontay Porter makes two point pullup jump shot (Gary Trent Jr. assists) | 17-22 | |
3:14 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
3:11 | Jalen McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-22 | |
2:45 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point jump shot | |||
2:44 | Jontay Porter defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Jontay Porter misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:27 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
2:22 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 19-24 | |
2:22 | Raptors 60 second timeout | |||
2:06 | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jalen McDaniels assists) | 21-24 | |
1:46 | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | |||
1:44 | Jalen McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
1:27 | +3 | Garrett Temple makes three point jump shot (Jontay Porter assists) | 24-24 | |
1:16 | Jontay Porter personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
1:16 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-25 | |
1:16 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-26 | |
0:57 | +2 | Dennis Schroder makes two point driving layup | 26-26 | |
0:52 | Russell Westbrook misses two point driving layup | |||
0:50 | Garrett Temple defensive rebound | |||
0:47 | +3 | Gary Trent Jr. makes three point running pullup jump shot (Garrett Temple assists) | 29-26 | |
0:34 | Jalen McDaniels personal foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
0:34 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-27 | |
0:34 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-28 | |
0:23 | Norman Powell personal foul (Gary Trent Jr. draws the foul) | |||
0:17 | Dennis Schroder turnover (bad pass) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
0:01 | Norman Powell misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
0:00 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:50 | +2 | Jalen McDaniels makes two point cutting layup (Jontay Porter assists) | 31-28 | |
11:34 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
11:30 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
11:28 | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | |||
11:25 | Gary Trent Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | Dennis Schroder misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:18 | Raptors offensive rebound | |||
11:10 | Gary Trent Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:04 | Jontay Porter offensive rebound | |||
11:04 | +2 | Jontay Porter makes two point tip layup | 33-28 | |
10:54 | +2 | Amir Coffey makes two point reverse layup (Daniel Theis assists) | 33-30 | |
10:33 | +3 | Jontay Porter makes three point jump shot (Dennis Schroder assists) | 36-30 | |
10:13 | James Harden misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
10:11 | Gary Trent Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | Jontay Porter offensive foul (Amir Coffey draws the foul) | |||
10:07 | Jontay Porter turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:54 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving floating jump shot (James Harden assists) | 36-32 | |
9:30 | Dennis Schroder turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
9:24 | James Harden turnover (lost ball) (Jalen McDaniels steals) | |||
9:20 | Daniel Theis blocks Garrett Temple's two point running layup | |||
9:15 | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | +3 | James Harden makes three point running jump shot (Amir Coffey assists) | 36-35 | |
8:54 | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:50 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
8:37 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:34 | Garrett Temple defensive rebound | |||
8:27 | Chris Boucher misses three point jump shot | |||
8:23 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
8:15 | Garrett Temple personal foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
8:06 | Scottie Barnes blocks Paul George's two point driving layup | |||
8:04 | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | |||
7:57 | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point cutting layup (Scottie Barnes assists) | 38-35 | |
7:45 | Daniel Theis turnover (traveling) | |||
7:38 | James Harden personal foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul) | |||
7:26 | Paul George blocks Chris Boucher's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:23 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
7:21 | +2 | James Harden makes two point running layup | 38-37 | |
7:13 | Scottie Barnes turnover (bad pass) (Daniel Theis steals) | |||
7:09 | +2 | Amir Coffey makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Terance Mann assists) | 38-39 | |
7:09 | Raptors 60 second timeout | |||
6:56 | Immanuel Quickley turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
6:46 | +2 | Paul George makes two point alley-oop dunk (James Harden assists) | 38-41 | |
6:37 | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 40-41 | |
6:22 | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | |||
6:19 | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Thaddeus Young misses three point jump shot | |||
6:11 | Raptors offensive rebound | |||
6:04 | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving finger roll layup (Thaddeus Young assists) | 42-41 | |
5:47 | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 42-44 | |
5:28 | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point bank jump shot | 44-44 | |
5:00 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 44-47 | |
4:43 | +2 | Thaddeus Young makes two point dunk (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 46-47 | |
4:31 | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:29 | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | RJ Barrett misses two point driving layup | |||
4:21 | Raptors offensive rebound | |||
4:21 | James Harden personal foul (Loose ball) (Chris Boucher draws the foul) | |||
4:09 | +2 | Dennis Schroder makes two point driving floating jump shot (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 48-47 | |
3:53 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 48-49 | |
3:45 | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 50-49 | |
3:30 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
3:25 | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | |||
3:12 | Dennis Schroder misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:09 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 50-51 | |
2:51 | +2 | Dennis Schroder makes two point cutting layup (Thaddeus Young assists) | 52-51 | |
2:51 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
2:29 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
2:25 | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | |||
2:12 | Dennis Schroder misses three point jump shot | |||
2:08 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
1:53 | Norman Powell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:50 | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | |||
1:47 | Scottie Barnes turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | |||
1:36 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:31 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
1:31 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point putback layup | 52-53 | |
1:14 | Kawhi Leonard shooting foul (Dennis Schroder draws the foul) | |||
1:14 | +1 | Dennis Schroder makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 53-53 | |
1:14 | +1 | Dennis Schroder makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-53 | |
1:03 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:58 | Terance Mann offensive rebound | |||
0:57 | Terance Mann turnover (bad pass) (Thaddeus Young steals) | |||
0:52 | Immanuel Quickley misses two point running layup | |||
0:49 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Immanuel Quickley shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
0:35 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 54-54 | |
0:35 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-55 | |
0:23 | +2 | Dennis Schroder makes two point pullup jump shot | 56-55 | |
0:23 | Terance Mann shooting foul (Dennis Schroder draws the foul) | |||
0:23 | +1 | Dennis Schroder makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 57-55 | |
0:02 |