Kawhi Leonard led the Los Angeles Clippers to a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies with an impressive 25 points on Wednesday night, resulting in a final score of 128-114. Alongside Leonard, James Harden and Norman Powell contributed significantly to the win, each adding 18 points to the scoreboard.
Leonard logged a season-high 34 minutes on the court, continuing a recent trend of increased playing time over the last three games. Amir Coffey also made his presence felt, scoring 15 points, while Kris Dunn posted 14 points. Ivica Zubac rounded out the contributions with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Additionally, Harden showcased his playmaking skills by dishing out 10 assists during the match.
On the other hand, the Grizzlies faced a challenge without star player Ja Morant, who was sidelined due to a knee injury in the second game of a back-to-back. Desmond Bane impressively scored 16 of his total 23 points in the first quarter. Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson added 18 and 15 points, respectively, and Santi Aldama contributed 14 points. However, Memphis struggled with ball security, committing 22 turnovers that resulted in 41 points for the Clippers. This defeat marked the Grizzlies’ second loss in their last three games.
In terms of season performance, the Grizzlies hold a record of 36-18 as they approach the All-Star break. They will have an extended pause until February 20, when they head out for three consecutive road games.
For the Clippers, Bogdan Bogdanovic made his debut with the team, scoring seven points after being traded from Atlanta. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons, who recently signed with the Clippers post a buyout from Brooklyn, received an introduction to the fans and may see action in the following game.
A significant moment in the game came when Leonard hit a 3-pointer with 7:07 left in the third quarter, completing a 10-0 run for the Clippers and extending their lead to 88-70. This marked Leonard’s fourth game this season scoring at least 20 points.
Another noteworthy statistic was Harden’s 3-pointer during the third quarter which allowed him to surpass Hakeem Olajuwon and secure 13th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, bringing his career point tally to 26,949.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies are set to face off against Indiana on February 20, while the Clippers will take on Utah in their next matchup on Thursday night.
