The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 119-99 on Tuesday night. Kawhi Leonard played a pivotal role in setting the tone, scoring 31 points in three quarters. His impressive performance brought his total to 106 points over the last three games, regaining his NBA superstar form.
“Kawhi’s main thing is just let’s play the right way every single night,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, “and when we’re not doing that, he’s very vocal about it.”
Leonard’s contribution was significant, especially considering his return to form following an ACL tear during the 2021 playoffs. James Harden offered a strong impact for the Clippers as he continues to get acclimated, contributing 15 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
“Just being healthy has been good,” Leonard said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings Updates
The Clippers have won five consecutive games, marking the longest active streak in the NBA and their first sweep of a back-to-back this season. Their defensive prowess was a critical factor in their success on a night Paul George’s performance ended after 16 minutes due to injury.
“We’re locked in defensively,” Lue said. “That’s where it all starts for us. When we’re getting stops and getting out in transition, we’re a hard team to beat.”
On the Kings’ side, Keegan Murray led with 17 points, while Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 10 rebounds. De’Aaron Fox also contributed with 14 points. Despite their efforts, the Kings were overwhelmed by the Clippers, particularly from the second quarter onwards. Kings coach Mike Brown expressed disappointment in the team’s performance, citing a lack of fight as a significant issue.
“We got our behinds kicked and that’s twice by this team, and we had no answers,” Brown said. “The thing that’s most concerning is sometimes you just got to fight, and tonight we didn’t fight. That’s the biggest takeaway from this game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings Updates
The Clippers led by a significant margin at halftime, scoring 70-48, fueled by their 59% shooting from the floor, perimeter shooting execution, and perfect free-throw efficiency. Leonard continued his dominant performance into the third quarter, helping the Clippers secure a 99-70 lead entering the fourth. The bench, led by Norman Powell with 15 points, controlled the team’s lead for the remainder of regulation.
Following this game, the Kings will face the Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden 1 Center, while the Clippers will take on the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
