The crowd in San Antonio turned on Kawhi Leonard again, showering the Clippers forward with deafening boos and angry shouts.
Leonard shrugged – and dominated.
Leonard earned his first victory in San Antonio since his exodus from the franchise, getting 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in three quarters as Los Angeles beat the Spurs 134-109 Saturday night.
"He was as sharp as I've seen him," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. "Not only with his scoring, but with his defense and his passing."
The boos puzzled Rivers but didn't faze Leonard.
"It only can make me better and make our team better with the crown not being on our side," Leonard said.
Leonard was roundly booed during pregame introductions and each time he touched the ball, just as he was in two previous visits to San Antonio. The reigning Finals MVP gave the sellout crowd plenty to jeer about during an active 27 minutes.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on December 21, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Leonard was 11 for 16 from the field with four steals and only two turnovers in setting a hurried pace the Spurs were unable to match.
The Clippers had 74 points in the paint, 26 fast-break points and 36 points off 18 turnovers.
"It's embarrassing," said Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan, who had 24 points. "It's frustrating, especially when you're out there trying hard, definitely frustrating."
Leonard benefited from the increased pace, slamming in a season-high four dunks.
"I was able to get out in transition, especially get down the paint and able to dunk the ball," Leonard said.
Leonard demanded a trade after playing just nine games for the Spurs in 2018 due to a right thigh injury. San Antonio relented and traded him the next summer to Toronto, where he led the Raptors to their first NBA championship last season.
Spurs fans have remained bitter about his forced departure, making the team's blowout victories over Leonard and the Raptors last season and the Clippers on Nov. 29 that much sweeter.
DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on December 21, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
"Just the way I probably left and how it was portrayed, the narrative that was portrayed in the media," Leonard said. "But, I don't make no sense of it. I know it's a game and it's competitive. When we're not playing or if I'm walking on the street or I see someone from San Antonio, they thank me for everything I did and they respect the way I played when I was here. It's just a part of the game, I feel like."
Leonard turned the tables in his fifth matchup with San Antonio, spending the entire fourth quarter on the bench as Los Angeles stretched its lead to 33.
Los Angeles had six players in double figures, including 21 by Montrezl Harrell and 20 by Lou Williams. George finished with 11 points.
DeRozan, who had 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first quarter, finished with 24 points to lead San Antonio. Marco Belinelli added 17 points.
Giannis has triple-double, Bucks rout Knicks 123-102
In another game on Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks followed their big victory over the Lakers by routing the New York Knicks 123-102.
Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his third triple-double of the season. He took only 10 shots, making eight.
"I don't look into stats," Antetokounmpo said. "All I care about is that we came in here, we got the job done. Got another one tomorrow."
Khris Middleton scored 23 points and Kyle Korver had 17 for the Bucks, who are playing without starters Wesley Mattews and Eric Bledsoe because of right leg injuries. They didn't miss them at all.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on December 21, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Julius Randle had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for the second straight night. They were out it early after missing nine of their first 10 shots, though they did keep fighting hard enough to force the Bucks to bring Antetokounmpo and other starters back off the bench midway through the fourth after Milwaukee led by 25 through three quarters.
"They went 6 for 6 from the 3-point line to start the game, which was our game plan, to make their guys take shots," Randle said. "They did to start the game and then they cooled off. We didn't make shots to start the game, which just hurt us."
Milwaukee put seven players in double figures in its second straight win after Dallas snapped its 18-game winning streak earlier this week. The Bucks bounced back from that by beating the Lakers 111-104.
George Hill #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on December 21, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Other games on Saturday (home teams in bold):
Utah Jazz 114 - 107 Charlotte Hornets
Atlanta Hawks 112 - 122 Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls 119 -107 Detroit Pistons
Washington Wizards 108 - 125 Philadelphia Sixers
Sacramento Kings 115 - 119 Memphis Grizzlies
Minnesota Timberwolves 106 - 113 Portland Trail Blazers