After missing the last three games with a knee injury, Kawhi Leonard returned to lift the Clippers past the Lakers in the latest “Battle of LA.”
Kawhi Leonard is back—and the LA Clippers are winning again.
Leonard returned from a three-game absence and fired 24 points in just 25 minutes as the Clippers staved off a late Lakers uprising for a 112-104 triumph on Friday, January 23 (PH time).
Dealing with a knee contusion in the past games, the fit-again Leonard paced a balance attack where LA had eight players in double figures.
James Harden showcased his all-around game with 18 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds while passing Andre Iguodala to crack the top 20 on the NBA’s all-time steals list.
Ivica Zubac dominated the paint with a monster 18-point, 19-rebound double-double, while Brook Lopez, Jordan Miller, and Kobe Sanders came off the bench to combine for 34 points.
After trailing by as many as 14 early in the fourth, the Lakers mounted a late charge, closing the gap to 91-93 following a Luka Doncic triple that capped a 19-7 run.
The Clippers, however, answered with a 9-0 spurt to push the lead back into double digits at 103-91 with 3:36 remaining.
Despite a late Lakers push that cut the deficit to three at 102-105, a thunderous Zubac dunk and a clutch basket from John Collins gave the Clippers some breathing room on their way to improving to 20-24.
Doncic flirted with a triple-double of 32 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a losing effort.
LeBron James added 23 markers, but LA now lost six of their last nine games and slipped to 26-17.
Up next, the Clippers take on the Brooklyn Nets (12-30), while the Lakers look to bounce back against the Dallas Mavericks (19-26).
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.