Paul George nails 6 3s, scores 28, Kawhi Leonard adds 27 points as Clippers beat Bulls 126-111
CHICAGO (AP) Whether he was burying his shots or moving the ball, Paul George seemed to make all the right decisions. The Clippers will sure take more of that.
George made six 3-pointers and scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard added 27 and Los Angeles beat the Chicago Bulls 126-111 on Thursday night.
Los Angeles regrouped after a 20-point lead late in the third quarter dwindled to eight in the fourth and stopped a two-game skid, beating Chicago for the second time in six days. Both teams were missing key players with the Clippers’ James Harden (strained left shoulder) and the Bulls’ Coby White (sore right hip) sidelined. But with George and Leonard leading the way, the Clippers had enough to come away with the win.
“We talk about the last 20 games, putting the ball back in PG's hands so he can get used to it so when we get to the playoffs we know exactly what we want to do,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “Now, he's just getting accustomed to running more pick-and-rolls and keeping the ball in his hands.”
George made 11 of 12 from the field and was one shy of a season high in making 6 of 7 3's. The Clippers were 20 of 40 from beyond the arc.
George also had seven assists and just one turnover, with the Bulls double teaming him and Leonard.
“It was just staying under control, playing through our teammates and I think just taking what they gave us,” he said. “I didn't think we were out of the norm, we weren't out of character, we kind of just played our style, slowed the game down for ourselves and took the shots that were available.”
Leonard, who exited Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota because of back spasms, made 12 of 17 shots. He said he thought he got elbowed in the game against the Bulls and irritated it the next day in the loss to Milwaukee.
Norman Powell scored 18 points. Bones Hyland added 17 points and a career-high 11 assists while matching a personal best with four steals for the Clippers, who are fourth in the Western Conference.
DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 21 points after scoring a season-high 46 in Wednesday’s overtime win at Indiana. The Bulls have lost three of four.
Nikola Vucevic scored 19 for Chicago. Alex Caruso made five 3s and finished with 17 points after scoring a season-high 23 the previous night, and Andre Drummond scored 15.
The Clippers led 90-70 after Terance Mann's fast-break layup with about 4:30 left in the third quarter. But the Bulls weren't finished.
DeRozan cut it to 98-90 early in the fourth with a finger-roll and 3-pointer. It was a nine-point game midway through the quarter when Hyland made a 3 and Ivica Zubac tipped in a missed 3 by Leonard, and the Clippers remained in control from there.
The Bulls, were breathing a little easier after imaging showed White was not seriously injured, coach Billy Donovan said. He is day to day after Pascal Siakam blocked his layup and landed on him near the end of regulation at Indiana on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Visit New Orleans on Friday.
Bulls: Host Washington on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Ivica Zubac vs. Nikola Vucevic (Ayo Dosunmu gains possession) | ||
| 11:36 | | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:14 |  | Ivica Zubac turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:56 | | +3 | Nikola Vucevic makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists) | 0-5 |
| 10:40 | | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | DeMar DeRozan turnover (bad pass) (Bones Hyland steals) | ||
| 10:19 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point running layup (Bones Hyland assists) | 2-5 |
| 10:05 | | Alex Caruso misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:03 | | Bones Hyland defensive rebound | ||
| 9:51 | | Terance Mann misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:48 | | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:27 | | Alex Caruso misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:23 | | Ayo Dosunmu offensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Nikola Vucevic misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:13 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 8:54 | | +3 | Bones Hyland makes three point pullup jump shot | 5-5 |
| 8:30 | | Torrey Craig misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:28 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 8:26 | | Alex Caruso shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | ||
| 8:26 | | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-5 |
| 8:26 | | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-5 |
| 8:12 | | Bones Hyland shooting foul (Torrey Craig draws the foul) | ||
| 8:12 | | Torrey Craig misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:12 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 8:12 | | Torrey Craig misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:10 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 7:55 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 9-5 |
| 7:34 | | Alex Caruso turnover (lost ball) (Bones Hyland steals) | ||
| 7:24 | | Terance Mann misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:24 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:12 | | Paul George blocks Ayo Dosunmu's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:08 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 7:05 | | Terance Mann misses two point running layup | ||
| 7:03 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 7:03 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point tip dunk | 11-5 |
| 6:49 | | Bones Hyland shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | ||
| 6:49 | | Bulls 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:49 | | DeMar DeRozan misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:49 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 6:49 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-6 |
| 6:27 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 13-6 |
| 6:11 | | +3 | Alex Caruso makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists) | 13-9 |
| 5:53 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 16-9 |
| 5:32 | | +3 | Alex Caruso makes three point jump shot (Onuralp Bitim assists) | 16-12 |
| 5:18 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point cutting dunk | ||
| 5:15 | | Alex Caruso defensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:05 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 4:56 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point stepback jump shot | 18-12 |
| 4:47 | | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Alex Caruso draws the foul) | ||
| 4:47 | | +1 | Alex Caruso makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-13 |
| 4:47 | | +1 | Alex Caruso makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-14 |
| 4:37 | | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 21-14 |
| 4:26 | | Nikola Vucevic misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:23 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 4:14 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point stepback jump shot | 23-14 |
| 4:04 | | Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Terance Mann steals) | ||
| 3:47 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point stepback jump shot | 25-14 |
| 3:27 | | Alex Caruso misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:24 | | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | ||
| 3:08 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Norman Powell assists) | 28-14 |
| 3:07 | | Bulls 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:55 | | Paul George personal foul (Ayo Dosunmu draws the foul) | ||
| 2:39 | | +3 | Ayo Dosunmu makes three point jump shot (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 28-17 |
| 2:21 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point layup | ||
| 2:18 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 2:18 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point tip layup | 30-17 |
| 2:11 | | Ayo Dosunmu misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:10 | | Nikola Vucevic offensive rebound | ||
| 2:10 | | Nikola Vucevic misses two point tip dunk | ||
| 2:10 | | Nikola Vucevic offensive rebound | ||
| 2:06 | | +3 | Torrey Craig makes three point jump shot (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 30-20 |
| 1:42 | | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:39 | | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | ||
| 1:34 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point pullup jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 33-20 |
| 1:23 | | +3 | Torrey Craig makes three point jump shot (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 33-23 |
| 1:08 | | Amir Coffey misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 0:54 | | +3 | Torrey Craig makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists) | 33-26 |
| 0:46 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point floating jump shot | 35-26 |
| 0:22 | | Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Norman Powell steals) | ||
| 0:03 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point cutting layup (Paul George assists) | 37-26 |
| 0:00 | | Dalen Terry misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | ||
| 11:28 | | +2 | Andre Drummond makes two point layup (Torrey Craig assists) | 37-28 |
| 11:28 | | Brandon Boston Jr. shooting foul (Andre Drummond draws the foul) | ||
| 11:28 | | +1 | Andre Drummond makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-29 |
| 11:08 | | +2 | Bones Hyland makes two point driving finger roll layup | 39-29 |
| 10:48 | | DeMar DeRozan turnover (bad pass) (Amir Coffey steals) | ||
| 10:45 | | Alex Caruso shooting foul (Bones Hyland draws the foul) | ||
| 10:45 | | Bones Hyland misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:45 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 10:45 | | +1 | Bones Hyland makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-29 |
| 10:32 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:17 | | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point jump shot (Norman Powell assists) | 43-29 |
| 9:56 | | Dalen Terry misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:56 | | Clippers defensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | Jevon Carter personal foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | ||
| 9:29 | | Amir Coffey misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:27 | | Andre Drummond defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | Alex Caruso turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 9:05 | | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point driving floating jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 45-29 |
| 8:52 | | DeMar DeRozan offensive foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | ||
| 8:52 | | DeMar DeRozan turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:40 | | Bones Hyland turnover (lost ball) (Jevon Carter steals) | ||
| 8:33 | | +3 | Alex Caruso makes three point running jump shot (Jevon Carter assists) | 45-32 |
| 8:18 | | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point pullup jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 48-32 |
| 8:07 | | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point driving layup | 48-34 |
| 8:07 | | Daniel Theis shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | ||
| 8:07 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 48-35 |
| 7:56 | | Andre Drummond shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 7:56 | | Norman Powell misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:56 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:56 | | Bulls 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:56 | | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-35 |
| 7:49 | | Amir Coffey shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | ||
| 7:49 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-36 |
| 7:49 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-37 |
| 7:34 | | Brandon Boston Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:29 | | Alex Caruso defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | Alex Caruso misses two point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | Brandon Boston Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | Amir Coffey misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:14 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 7:10 | | +2 | Brandon Boston Jr. makes two point driving layup (Ivica Zubac assists) | 51-37 |
| 6:54 | | +2 | Jevon Carter makes two point pullup jump shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 51-39 |
| 6:38 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup (Ivica Zubac assists) | 53-39 |
| 6:28 | | +2 | Andre Drummond makes two point floating jump shot (Alex Caruso assists) | 53-41 |
| 6:15 | | Norman Powell turnover (lost ball) (Alex Caruso steals) | ||
| 6:15 | | Norman Powell personal foul (Alex Caruso draws the foul) | ||
| 6:15 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 53-42 |
| 5:59 | | +3 | Jevon Carter makes three point jump shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 53-45 |
| 5:38 | | +3 | Bones Hyland makes three point pullup jump shot (Paul George assists) | 56-45 |
| 5:25 | | DeMar DeRozan misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:23 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:04 | | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:01 | | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | +2 | Jevon Carter makes two point pullup jump shot (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 56-47 |
| 4:29 | | Bones Hyland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:26 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 4:04 | | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point turnaround hook shot | 56-49 |
| 3:55 | | Ayo Dosunmu personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | ||
| 3:48 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 58-49 |
| 3:27 | | +2 | Jevon Carter makes two point driving floating jump shot | 58-51 |
| 3:08 | | Kawhi Leonard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:06 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 2:53 | | Jevon Carter turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 2:53 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:36 | | Onuralp Bitim personal foul (Terance Mann draws the foul) | ||
| 2:36 | | +1 | Terance Mann makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 59-51 |
| 2:36 | | +1 | Terance Mann makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 60-51 |
| 2:20 | | Kawhi Leonard blocks Jevon Carter's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:20 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 2:19 | | Ayo Dosunmu turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 2:07 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound | ||
| 1:41 | | DeMar DeRozan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:39 | | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 1:32 | | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point driving layup | 62-51 |
| 1:06 | | DeMar DeRozan turnover (lost ball) (Paul George steals) | ||
| 1:02 | | Norman Powell misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:56 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 0:45 | | Norman Powell personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | ||
| 0:45 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 62-52 |
| 0:45 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 62-53 |
| 0:31 | | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:25 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 0:09 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:07 | | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point driving layup (Terance Mann assists) | 64-53 |
| 0:00 | | Ayo Dosunmu misses three point bank jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |