Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 117-93 blowout of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, despite playing without James Harden. Leonard’s 27th consecutive game with 20 or more points came as a consolation after he was left off the Western Conference All-Star reserves announced earlier in the day.
Ivica Zubac dominated the boards with 20 rebounds, and the Clippers controlled the paint, outscoring Phoenix 64-18 and outrebounding the Suns 63-35. Jordan Miller added 20 points, John Collins 16, Zubac 14, and Kobe Sanders chipped in 12 while starting in place of Harden, who missed the game for personal reasons. Los Angeles shot 51.8% from the field and bounced back from a loss at Denver on Friday, continuing a hot streak that has seen them win 17 of 21 games since a 6-21 start.
For Phoenix, Grayson Allen led with 23 points and eight assists, and Dillon Brooks added 22, but the Suns shot just 33.3% and were held under 100 points for only the sixth time in 50 games this season. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin each scored 12. Phoenix was missing stars Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) and Jalen Green (right hamstring, left hip), with Booker having been named an All-Star reserve earlier Sunday.
The Clippers and Suns split the season series 2-2.
Up next:
Los Angeles hosts Philadelphia on Monday, while Phoenix travels to Portland on Tuesday.
