Leonard scores 43 in 3 quarters as Clippers rout Cavaliers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 43 points in three quarters as the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-103 on Tuesday night (Wednesday, PHL time).
According to Sportradar, it was only the second time since 1996 a Clippers player scored at least 40 points in the first three quarters. Lou Williams had 40 against Golden State in a 2018 game.
Leonard had 14 points in the second quarter and set a career high for 3s in one period with four as the Clippers broke open the game. The All-Star forward played 29 minutes and was 14 of 22 from the floor and 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. He was two points from tying his regularseason career high.
Williams added 24 points for the Clippers, who played again without injured star Paul George. They have won five of six and had six scorers in double figures.
Collin Sexton led Cleveland with 25 points and Cedi Osman added 21. Rookie guard Darius Garland, the fifth overall pick in last June's draft, had 14 points and a career-high 10 assists for his first double-double.
Osman's 3-pointer gave the Cavs a 34-33 lead with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter before Los Angeles outscored them 33-16 the remainder of the half.
The Clippers scored the final 13 points of the first half, including nine from Leonard. He closed the half by intercepting Osman's pass and going down the floor for a dunk while drawing a foul from Garland. Leonard's free throw completed the threepoint play to put Los Angels up 66-50 at halftime.
The Clippers' largest lead was 36 early in the fourth.
Young, Huerter power Hawks to 123-110 win over Booker, Suns
ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away late to beat the Phoenix Suns 123-110 on Tuesday night (Wednesday, PHL time).
Young had only 15 points before more than doubling his total in the final period for his 20th game with at least 30 points this season.
Young got help from his backcourt partner. Kevin Huerter scored 23 points and set career highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists. John Collins added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 39 points before he was ejected for his second technical foul with less than two minutes remaining following his jam.
Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Led by Young, the Hawks pulled away in the final period after briefly losing their lead in the third. Young’s 3-pointer gave Atlanta a 95-92 lead it did not relinquish.
Each team made lineup adjustments.
Suns guard Ricky Rubio did not accompany the team to Atlanta for personal reasons.
The Hawks had few options inside as centers Alex Len (lower back pain) and Bruno Fernando did not play. Atlanta was boosted by Young’s return after missing one game with a sore left hamstring.
Atlanta coach Lloyd
Pierce said before the game his biggest concern was having Collins and Damian Jones get into foul trouble as the team’s primary available inside players. Collins finished with five fouls. Jones, who had 11 points, had three fouls.
After leading 56-51 at halftime, Atlanta opened the second half with a 12-4 run. Collins sank a 3-pointer for a 68-55 lead. The Hawks stretched the lead to 75-61 on another 3 from Collins.
Phoenix rallied late in the third to take its first lead of the second half, 81-80, on Cameron Johnson’s three-point play. Collins’ late basket gave Atlanta an 84-83 advantage entering the final period.
The Suns used strong defense to take the lead in the final period. Johnson’s steal set up Mikal Bridges’ basket for an 87-86 lead. Kelly Oubre’s block of Huerter’s shot set up a jam by Bridges to stretch the lead to three.
Booker had a strong recovery from a poor shooting effort in Sunday’s (Monday, PHL time) win over Charlotte, when he went only 3 of 12 from the field for 12 points.