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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had 27 factors and 6 assists in three quarters, Paul George scored 26 and the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers manhandled the Sacramento Kings 138-100 on Friday evening.
The Clippers have received 15 consecutive street video games towards the Kings. Los Angeles hasn’t misplaced in Sacramento since March 19, 2013.
The 138 factors have been essentially the most the Clippers had scored since placing up 150 towards Washington on Dec. 1, 2019, though coach Tyronn Lue appeared extra happy together with his workforce’s protection.
”We challenged our guys to be higher defensively,” Lue mentioned. ”I assumed we performed the fitting approach all through the course of the sport. The entire 48 minutes we performed the sport the fitting approach and that was good to see.”
Enjoying with out guards Patrick Beverley (private causes) and Lou Williams (sore left hip), the Clippers led by eight at halftime after which broke the sport open within the third quarter after they outscored the Kings 37-16.
Leonard had 11 factors in the course of the blitz, together with a jarring, one-handed dunk over Cory Joseph as a part of a 17-2 run. Leonard sat out the fourth interval as Lue emptied his bench.
Los Angeles’ backups got here up huge all recreation to ease the absences of Beverley and Williams.
Reggie Jackson began instead of Beverley and had 11 factors, three assists and 4 rebounds. Marcus Morris scored a season-high 18 factors, Terance Mann had a season-best 13 factors and 9 rebounds, and Luke Kennard scored 14.
”Pat and Lou are a giant a part of our workforce. Lacking them is unquestionably lots, however we obtained different guys to step up,” Morris mentioned. ”T-Mann stepped up and Reggie stepped up. Kudos to them for staying prepared and being prepared when their quantity’s referred to as.”
Marvin Bagley III had 20 factors and 5 rebounds for Sacramento. Richaun Holmes added 17 factors and 5 rebounds.
”That workforce simply got here and pushed us round,” Kings coach Luke Walton mentioned. ”We’ve to know as a bunch we now have to have the ability to guard folks and rebound after we get stops. Proper now that is one thing we now have to determine. It was evident tonight. They obtained what they wished.”
Serge Ibaka adopted Leonard’s bucket with a backdoor feed to Kennard, and Mann’s dunk made it 99-69.
Two nights after permitting Portland to match a franchise document for 3-pointers, Sacramento once more struggled with its perimeter protection.
The Clippers made seven 3s within the second quarter – three from George and 4 by Morris, yet one more than his earlier season excessive. They completed 18 of 35 past the arc.
MOVE IT, MOVE IT
Lue lauded his workforce’s unselfishness as being key. Los Angeles had 29 assists, the sixth time this season the Clippers have had 28 or extra. ”When the ball’s hopping like that, all people’s part of it,” Lue mentioned.
MLK TRIBUTE
In a nod to Martin Luther King Day on Monday, gamers for each groups wore black T-shirts with the phrase, ”Now could be the time to make justice a actuality for all” on the entrance and ”Honor King” on the again.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Morris shot 7 of 12 from the ground. . Williams sat out after taking part in 9 minutes towards New Orleans on Wednesday and under no circumstances within the second half.
Kings: With Hassan Whiteside nursing a sore hip, Chimezie Metu’s taking part in time has picked up because the backup middle. A second-round decide of the Spurs in 2018 who’s on a two-way contract with Sacramento, Metu performed in back-to-back video games for the primary time this season and matched his profession excessive of 10 factors whereas knocking down eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host Indiana on Sunday. The Pacers shot 35% from the ground when the groups met final season.
Kings: Play the Pelicans on Sunday evening at Golden 1 Heart. Sacramento received two of three towards New Orleans final season however misplaced its solely residence recreation within the collection.
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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities
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