Kawhi Leonard (#2) of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, January 21, 2024. /CFP
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, securing their second straight win.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 18 points (104-86) in the fourth quarter, but drove a crazy 22-0 run in the final 5:33 of the fourth quarter to claim the victory. Kawhi Leonard went 4-for-4 from the field to contribute 14 of those points. He knocked down two triples, one fadeaway jumper, one dunk and four free throws, regardless of which defender in front of him.
The other eight points came from Paul George and Norman Powell. Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined to deliver five assists during that time. By contrast, the Nets missed all of their nine field goals (FGs) and committed two turnovers. Both turnovers were committed by Cam Thomas who also contributed four bricks.
Russell Westbrook (#0) of the Los Angeles Clippers drives toward the rim in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, January 21, 2024. /CFP
Before the Clippers' explosive offensive performance at the end of Sunday's game, they trailed by double-digit points for most of the time after allowing a 16-0 start by the opponents. Leonard missed nine of his 11 shots before the final rally. George went 4-for-15 in FGs to get only nine points.
It was Westbrook and Harden holding the Clippers together through the most difficult time. Harden scored 24 points and went to the free throw line nine times, more than anyone else on the court. Westbrook was the only one on the team's rotations that finished the first half with positive plus-minus. He shot 10-for-16 from the field for the whole game to get 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Only four of his FG attempts were jumpers. He scored 16 points in the paint, all next to the hoop, more than even the Nets' starting center Nic Claxton who has been a well-known big man finisher.
James Harden (#1) of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, January 21, 2024. /CFP
The Nets had five players, three from the starting lineup and two off the bench, who reached double-digit points. Mikal Bridges and Spincer Dinwiddie combined to drain eight triples out of 13 attempts. Claxton went 7-for-10 in FGs to get 16 points. Thomas added 20 points for the team, but he missed four of his five shots outside the 3-point line.
In the final 5:33, Bridges and Dinwiddie, the Nets' No. 1 scorer and No. 1 playmaker took only one shot each. Claxton had to shoot a 3-pointer from the right corner instead of waiting to finish under the rim. One word to summarize the team's performance in the final period of time was chaotic. They had no clear idea of who should lead their offense or how to give full play to the defensive power of Bridges and Claxton.
Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets shoots in the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., January 21, 2024. /CFP
Other games on Sunday (away teams come first):
Denver Nuggets 113-104 Washington Wizards
The Nuggets pocketed their 30th win of the season by defeating the Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. They are now only one game behind the Western Conference leaders, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nikola Jokic didn't any take any shot behind the arc, but he still smashed Daniel Gafford, Kyle Kuzma and Marvin Bagley like peas by making 15 of his 20 FG attempts to drop 42 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Kristaps Porzingis (R) of the Boston Celtics blocks a shot by Nate Williams of the Houston Rockets in the game at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, January 21, 2024. /CFP
Boston Celtics 116-107 Houston Rockets
Kristaps Porzingis knocked down six triples to score 32 points and got five blocks to help the Celtics conquer Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Sunday. He doesn't have Alperen Sengun's complete set of offensive skills, but Porzingis is one of the best in his position in stretching the floor and protecting the rim.
Sengun had a double-double of 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Rockets. The team trailed by as many as 17 points (83-66) in the third quarter, but cut the deficit to three (93-90) for the closest in the final period. They took six shots outside the 3-point line in the final five minutes, made one, drew a foul and missed the rest four of them.
Kevin Durant (L) of the Phoenix Suns penetrates in the game against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Janaury 21, 2024. /CFP
Indiana Pacers 110-117 Phoenix Suns
The Suns' "Big Three," Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, combined to drop 91 points for the team to extend their winning streak to five games at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday. 40 of those points came from Durant who never stepped onto the free throw line. He went 18-for-25 from the field and made 12 of his 18 2-point jumpers.
Miami Heat 87-105 Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers 110-134 Los Angeles Lakers