Leonard’s 29 lead Clippers past Mavs
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 126111 on Thursday night.
Paul George scored 24 points and Ivica Zubac added 21 points on 10-for-10 shooting and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who strengthened their hold on the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings. The Clippers entered the night a just half game ahead of Denver in the standings, but they shot 54% against the Mavericks to improve to 2-2 in the restart.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points and Luka Doncic added 29 for Dallas, which fell to 1-3 in the restart. Doncic was coming off a monster game — 34 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
The Clippers led Dallas by 12 in the third quarter before the Mavericks rallied and tied the game at 101 midway through the fourth. Los Angeles responded with a 9-0 run to regain control. The Clippers shot 62% in the fourth quarter to pull away.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Patrick Beverley out with a left calf strain. He was injured against Phoenix
on Tuesday . ... Outrebounded the Mavericks 45-37. ... Marcus Morris had 16 points on 5 for 7 shooting.
Mavericks: Seth Curry sat out his second straight game with a right leg injury . ... Made 17 of 48 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Play the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Mavericks: Play the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
Kings 140, Pelicans 125
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a career-high 35 points to help the Sacramento Kings beat the New Orleans Pelicans.
De’Aaron Fox had 30 points and 10 assists and Harrison Barnes added 22 points for the Kings, who got their first win in four tries since the restart. The Kings shot 54%.
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored 24 points for the Pelicans.
Suns 114, Pacers 99
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The NBA bubble appears to have given the Phoenix Suns new life.
Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Suns continued their improbable run in Disney World, beating the Indiana Pacers for their fourth straight win. The Suns have now climbed out of the basement in the West among the teams in Orlando, while keeping their postseason hopes alive.
Bucks 130, Heat 116
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton scored 33 points each, and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a huge early deficit to get a win over the Miami Heat to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat led by as many as 23 points in a first half where the team piled up 73 points despite playing without Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic. Miami cooled off after the break and the Bucks took the lead in the third quarter but were down by 6 to start the fourth.
Trail Blazers 125, Nuggets 115 Lakers at Rockets, late