On the same day all-star wing Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year contract extension with the Clippers worth $152.3 million, Leonard scored 29 points as his team slowly awoke to outlast the skidding Toronto Raptors, 126-120, at Crypto.com Arena, and improve to 24-13.
Leonard’s curving path to the rim with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter ended with a right-handed dunk for a six-point lead. When that was shaved to three, Leonard drove into the lane, drew a second defender and passed to the open teammate, Paul George, for a swished three-pointer and a restored six-point cushion with 36 seconds to play.
George finished with 29 points as well. Ivica Zubac had 12 points and 11 rebounds while James Harden scored 14 points with 11 assists.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The win was the Clippers’ 16th in their last 19 games since Dec. 1, despite shooting 13 free throws and being outrebounded. Yet they made 15 three-pointers, three more than Toronto, held a vast advantage in self-inflicted wounds, scoring 17 points off of 15 Raptors turnovers, compared to the two points Toronto (15-23) mustered from the Clippers’ seven turnovers.
Playing for the second time in as many nights and without star Pascal Siakam, a subject of persistent trade rumors, because of an injured back, Toronto never wilted, making 54% of its shots as its quick guards repeatedly beat defenders to the paint and down the court, forcing the Clippers to keep pace.
In a game in which neither team led by double-digits through three quarters, the Clippers gradually separated themselves in the fourth quarter to lead by 10 with seven minutes to play, then turned to what has become their default closing lineup – starters Leonard, George, Harden and Zubac, plus reserve Norman Powell – to do what had been impossible to that point and push away the Raptors.
James Harden looks to the ref for a foul call in the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
It didn’t happen in a landslide, but the result was what the Clippers intended – a profitable day for all involved.