CLIPPERS RIP RAPTORS ON 2ND-HALF RAMPAGE
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points, Paul George had 23 and the Los Angeles Clippers broke away in the second half to beat the Toronto Raptors 108-100 on Wednesday night.
While Leonard and George put up their usual numbers on the offensive end, the biggest key to the win was defense. After struggling to get stops during a five-losing streak, the Clippers have tightened up in defending teams over the past two games.
Los Angeles held Toronto to 37 of 96 shooting, which was the first time since Nov. 27 the Clippers have held a team under 40 percent.
“I thought we did a good job of talking and getting back in transition. We need to come out with a defensive mindset. That is what needs to improve for us to keep moving forward,” said Leonard, who also had a season-high 12 rebounds against the team he helped lead to the NBA title in 2019.
Ivica Zubac added 17 points for the Clippers, who had a seasonhigh 14 dunks along with a 60-42 advantage in the paint and a 20-10 edge in fastbreak points.
Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes each scored 20 points for Toronto, and O.G. Anunoby had 18 points. The Raptors have dropped two straight for the first time since Feb. 1.
Suns 132, Thunder 101
Devin Booker scored 44 points on 17-of-23 shooting to help the Phoenix Suns roll to a 132-101 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kevin Durant was scheduled to make his home debut for Phoenix but slipped and injured his left ankle in pregame warmups. Booker made up for Durant’s absence, sinking six 3-pointers while scoring 35 or more points for the fourth consecutive game.
Terrence Ross came off the bench to score 24 points and hit a seasonhigh six 3-pointers to help the Suns win for the 16th time in 21 games. Chris Paul recorded 18 points, nine assists and four steals, and Deandre Ayton had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Pelicans 113, Mavericks 106
CJ McCollum scored 13 of his game-high 32 points in the final four minutes as host New Orleans held off Dallas.
McCollum finished 6 of 8 on 3-pointers and made three straight during his late-game blitz to stem the Mavericks’ rally from a 19-point deficit. Trey Murphy III added 16 points, Herbert Jones Jr. and Jaxson Hayes scored 14 each, and Brandon Ingram had 12 before leaving the game for good late in the second quarter because of a right ankle sprain.
Kyrie Irving scored 27, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 and Luka Doncic had 15 before leaving the game for good late in the third quarter because of a left thigh strain. Doncic called the injury “not good” after the game.
Hawks 122, Wizards 120
Trae Young scored 28 points and De’Andre Hunter scored five of his 15 points in the final 67 seconds to help visiting Atlanta erase a 15-point second-half deficit and beat Washington.
Hunter’s three-point play with 1:07 left put Atlanta ahead to stay and his two free throws with 18.3 seconds remaining gave the Hawks the advantage they needed to break their two-game losing streak.