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0 The Los Angeles Clippers won their fourth straight game in a thumping victory over the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 127-107 on Friday night. James Harden led the way with an impressive 22 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, earning his 75th career triple-double. This was his first triple-double with the Clippers, since joining them in a trade with Philadelphia on November 1st. Harden now has the eighth-most triple-doubles in NBA history.
Paul George contributed 21 points to the victory, while Russell Westbrook scored 20 and Kawhi Leonard had 16 against his former team. Leonard, who was welcomed with a warm ovation when the starters were introduced, had his second career triple-double in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers. He had seven rebounds and three assists on Friday.
Former Raptors guard Norman Powell scored 17 points, and Mason Plumlee added 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers opened a season-long seven-game trip by evening their road record at 10-10. The Clippers finished with a season-best 70 points in the paint, with Scottie Barnes scoring 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors.
Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic acknowledged that the Clippers were big and forceful, and were able to attack the paint and get there. RJ Barrett added 22 points for the Raptors, with Gary Trent Jr. and Dennis Schroder each scoring 13 while Thad Young had 12.
Leonard didn’t play in the fourth quarter, with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue giving the oft-injured star some rest ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Eastern Conference-leading Boston. Lue said that Leonard is good, but they’ve got a back-to-back game on Saturday, so the more he can lessen Leonard, the better it is for the team.
Bruce Brown made his first start for Toronto, taking the place of injured guard Immanuel Quickley (sore right quadriceps). Brown finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Raptors center Jakob Poeltl missed his ninth straight game because of a sprained left ankle. Toronto’s frontcourt options were further thinned when forward Jontay Porter left after four minutes of action because of irritation in his eye. Porter left Monday’s loss to Memphis after being poked in the eye.
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