In a commanding performance at home, the Los Angeles Clippers secured a decisive victory against the Charlotte Hornets, triumphing 123-88 on Sunday night. James Harden was instrumental in the win, delivering an impressive 31 points and securing 10 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard also contributed significantly with 23 points.
Ivica Zubac bolstered the Clippers’ efforts, notching a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. His contribution included two crucial free throws with 5:43 remaining in the second quarter, propelling the Clippers to a 45-34 lead, which they successfully maintained for the rest of the game. Derrick Jones added depth to the Clippers’ scoring with 12 points.
In contrast, Charlotte struggled to find their offensive groove after a high-scoring affair against San Antonio on Friday. Mark Williams stood out for the Hornets, recording 18 points and 15 rebounds, while LaMelo Ball added 16 points. Despite their efforts, the Hornets failed to hit the 90-point mark for the ninth time this season.
For the Clippers, this victory marks a continuation of their upward trajectory, as they have now claimed six victories in their last seven outings. They are inching closer to the top tier of the Western Conference, trailing five games behind second-seed teams Houston, Denver, and Memphis.
The momentum of the game shifted significantly early on, as the Clippers executed a pivotal 17-6 run. This surge transformed an early 11-9 deficit into a commanding 26-16 lead over the Hornets, capped by a layup from Harden with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
A key factor in the Clippers’ triumph was their shooting accuracy from the three-point line. Harden and Leonard combined for seven successful attempts from beyond the arc, outdoing Charlotte’s shooting performance, which saw a dismal 18.2% success rate from three-point range, hitting only six of 33 attempts.
Looking ahead, Charlotte will host Atlanta on Tuesday as they aim to recover and refocus. The Clippers, meanwhile, will gear up to face league-leading Cleveland, also on Tuesday, hoping to build on their recent string of successes.
