Nets hold on to beat Clippers 112-108 for sixth straight win
LOS ANGELES — James Harden scored 37 points and the Brooklyn Nets held off a furious fourthquarter rally to edge the Los Angeles Clippers 112-108 on Sunday night for their season-best sixth victory in a row.
The Nets wrapped up a 5-0 trip, beating Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix and both Los Angeles teams to complete their longest undefeated single trip in franchise history. All but two of the wins were by double digits. They’ve now defeated West teams eight straight times.
“Winning six in a row, all it does is keep the world silent for a bit,” Kyrie Irving said. “When we hit a bump in the road, then it’s, ‘What’s going on with the Nets?’ The destination is making it to that main stage and earning our way there.”
Harden just missed a triple double, finishing with 11 rebounds and seven assists. Irving added 28 points and eight assists.
Paul George led the Clippers with 34 points. Kawhi Leonard had 29 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Ivica Zubac finished with 13 points, but no other Clipper reached double figures. Lou Williams was 2 of 11, and Marcus Morris 2 of 7.
The Nets dominated in the paint, outscoring the Clippers, 60-38.
Leonard hit a pair of free throws to make it 108-all with 28 seconds remaining.
Irving missed a 3-pointer and former Clipper DeAndre Jordan grabbed the offensive rebound and scored. Leonard got called for an offensive foul that put Harden at the line, and he made both free throws to finish off the victory.
“No call, so great defense,” said Leonard, who promptly got up and walked out of his postgame virtual media session.
Brooklyn got off to a quick start in the fourth. Harden breezed past Zubac to score, Joe Harris hit a 3pointer and Harden made a pair of free throws for a 15-point lead — its largest of the game.
Zubac and George combined to score 20 straight points, drawing the Clippers to 103-99. Zubac dunked twice and George made two 3pointers and six free throws in the spurt. Leonard ran off four in a row that drew the Clippers to 107-103.
Patrick Beverley fouled Jeff Green from behind with 2:50 remaining. Green crumpled to the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, but lost. Green kicked over a drink cooler on his way off the court.
The Nets again played without star forward Kevin Durant,
who missed his fourth straight game with a left hamstring strain.
“We showed mental toughness and belief by continuing on this trip no matter who is available,” Nets coach Steve Nash said, citing the team’s 24-point comeback at Phoenix and its recovery from blowing the lead to the Clippers. “Some of that toughness has to be built, it’s not just turned on.”