Kawhi Leonard scores 25, Clippers top Heat 103-95 for 25th win in last 30 games
MIAMI (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers have been on the road for nearly two weeks, forced from their home building because of the Grammy Awards.
It hasn't slowed the Clippers down whatsoever.
Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half and the Clippers remained red-hot by topping the sliding Miami Heat 103-95 on Sunday night. They improved to 5-1 on their seven-game, 11-day trip that ends Monday night in Atlanta.
“You get those mental blocks at this stage but we've been staying afloat,” Leonard said. “Appreciate everybody coming out and playing and staying locked-in. Those are the things that I'm happy about.”
The Clippers are more than “staying afloat.” They are 25-5 since the start of December - by far the best record in the NBA over that span. Harden flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 11 assists and eight assists. Norman Powell scored 16 points and Paul George added 11 for the Clippers.
“It's just having that mindset that we're going to try to win every game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I give guys credit. They've been doing that. We have a lot of talent. We have a lot of guys willing to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win, and that's what we did.”
Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Terry Rozier finished with 17 for the Heat, who fell to 2-8 in their last 10. Bam Adebayo and Josh Richardson each had 14 points for Miami.
“We have to figure out how to make it flow,” Adebayo said. “You have to make it flow or it's not going to work. ... We've been in worse situations.”
Adebayo grabbed 13 rebounds and Caleb Martin scored 11 points for Miami, which played without its two best 3-point shooters. Duncan Robinson remains in the NBA's concussion protocols and Tyler Herro was slated to start Sunday, then was a very late scratch after being diagnosed with a migraine.
Miami was held under 100 points for the 12th time this season. The Heat are 2-10 in those games; only Portland and Charlotte have more such games this season.
“There are some things offensively you can do with better pace and better intention," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That’s not exclusive to us. And we’ll work on that and we’ll get better.”
The teams combined for seven first-half fouls, the fewest in any NBA game this season. The 43 points was a season-low for the Clippers and tied the third-fewest by halftime for the Heat. And the 86 combined points by the break was the sixth-fewest out of more than 700 games played so far this season.
But the second half saw every offensive number tip the Clippers' way. They shot 50% to Miami's 42%, outscored the Heat 27-12 from the 3-point line and were 17 for 20 from the foul line - compared with Miami's 6 for 6.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Atlanta on Monday night.
Heat: Host Orlando on Tuesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Ivica Zubac vs. Bam Adebayo (Terry Rozier gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:36 |  | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 11:15 | | Terance Mann misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:13 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 11:03 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:59 | | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | ||
| 10:59 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point tip layup | ||
| 10:58 | | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point putback layup | 0-2 |
| 10:37 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | ||
| 10:29 | | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-3 |
| 10:29 | | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-4 |
| 10:19 | | Haywood Highsmith personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | ||
| 10:13 | | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:09 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:01 | | Josh Richardson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:57 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point pullup jump shot | 3-4 |
| 9:29 | | +3 | Josh Richardson makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 3-7 |
| 9:19 | | Kawhi Leonard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:17 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 9:08 | | Bam Adebayo turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:00 | | Paul George misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:58 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 8:51 | | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | ||
| 8:51 | | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-8 |
| 8:51 | | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-9 |
| 8:43 | | James Harden turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:34 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point pullup jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 3-11 |
| 8:33 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:09 | | Clippers turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 7:50 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 3-13 |
| 7:38 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point pullup jump shot | 5-13 |
| 7:17 | | Josh Richardson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:13 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | James Harden misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:06 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | Ivica Zubac turnover (bad pass) (Terry Rozier steals) | ||
| 6:45 | | +3 | Haywood Highsmith makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 5-16 |
| 6:26 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:20 | | Terance Mann offensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point tip layup | 7-16 |
| 6:04 | | Jimmy Butler misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:00 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:48 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | Josh Richardson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:37 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 5:19 | | Paul George turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 5:06 | | Terry Rozier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:00 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 4:49 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:46 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 4:44 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | ||
| 4:41 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point running layup (James Harden assists) | 9-16 |
| 4:20 | | Haywood Highsmith misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:17 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point running dunk (James Harden assists) | 11-16 |
| 4:16 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:05 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point layup (Kevin Love assists) | 11-18 |
| 3:38 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 3:24 | | Kevin Love turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | ||
| 3:14 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-18 |
| 2:58 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point jump shot (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 13-20 |
| 2:35 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup | 15-20 |
| 2:17 | | Jimmy Butler misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 2:15 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:01 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 1:57 | | Terry Rozier turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:46 | | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:44 | | Mason Plumlee offensive rebound | ||
| 1:39 | | Josh Richardson shooting foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | ||
| 1:39 | | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-20 |
| 1:39 | | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-20 |
| 1:25 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point hook shot | ||
| 1:23 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 1:08 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 1:06 | | Josh Richardson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point running layup | ||
| 1:02 | | Clippers defensive rebound | ||
| 0:41 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:22 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point pullup jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 17-22 |
| 0:06 | | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point tip layup | ||
| 0:02 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point tip layup | ||
| 0:02 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 19-22 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | Josh Richardson personal foul (Mason Plumlee draws the foul) | ||
| 11:37 | | Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:33 | | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | ||
| 11:30 | | Amir Coffey shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | ||
| 11:30 | | Caleb Martin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:30 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 11:30 | | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-23 |
| 11:09 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Bam Adebayo steals) | ||
| 10:59 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving dunk (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 19-25 |
| 10:41 | | +3 | Russell Westbrook makes three point jump shot (Norman Powell assists) | 22-25 |
| 10:20 | | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:17 | | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Josh Richardson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:39 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving reverse layup | 22-27 |
| 9:16 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 25-27 |
| 8:57 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:55 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 8:39 | | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 28-27 |
| 8:36 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:21 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:07 | | +2 | Amir Coffey makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 30-27 |
| 7:58 | | Caleb Martin misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:54 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 7:50 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:47 | | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point stepback jump shot | 30-29 |
| 7:16 | | Paul George misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 7:16 | | Heat defensive rebound | ||
| 7:04 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point floating jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 30-31 |
| 6:48 | | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 33-31 |
| 6:34 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:29 | | Norman Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 6:05 | | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:02 | | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | ||
| 5:53 | | Terry Rozier misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:51 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Caleb Martin steals) | ||
| 5:31 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point floating jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 33-33 |
| 5:31 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:17 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:14 | | Kevin Love defensive rebound | ||
| 5:03 | | Kevin Love misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:58 | | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:43 | | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | ||
| 4:36 | | +3 | Kevin Love makes three point jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 33-36 |
| 4:17 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 35-36 |
| 4:06 | | Terry Rozier misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:01 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 4:00 | | Paul George turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:43 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Paul George steals) | ||
| 3:31 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point stepback jump shot | 38-36 |
| 3:04 | | Caleb Martin misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:00 | | Jimmy Butler offensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | Jimmy Butler misses two point putback layup | ||
| 2:56 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 2:52 | | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 41-36 |
| 2:34 | | Kevin Love misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:32 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 2:18 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 2:15 | | Kevin Love defensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | +3 | Jimmy Butler makes three point jump shot (Kevin Love assists) | 41-39 |
| 2:07 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:51 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:48 | | Amir Coffey offensive rebound | ||
| 1:40 | | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:36 | | Josh Richardson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:32 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running layup (Josh Richardson assists) | 41-41 |
| 1:17 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (Paul George assists) | 43-41 |
| 1:04 | | Amir Coffey personal foul (Josh Richardson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:49 | | Josh Richardson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:46 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 0:32 | | Amir Coffey misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 0:18 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point dunk (Josh Richardson assists) | 43-43 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |