After struggling last month and trying to incorporate James Harden into their lineup after he was acquired in a Nov. 1 trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers on Friday closed a successful December with a 117-106 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Paul George scored 23 points while Harden added 16 points and 13 assists for the Clippers, who finished 11-2 this month, the best mark in the Western Conference.
“I give credit to our coaching staff and players for just working through all that adversity when we lost six games in a row [in November] and just trying to figure it out,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Once we figured out our rotations and how we wanted how to play, we’ve had to win games different ways, ugly sometimes. We’re doing some good things and I like our attitude right now.”
Photo: AFP
The Clippers entered this month three games under .500 for the season. They began the month with nine straight wins for their longest winning streak since 2015-2016.
Los Angeles were missing Kawhi Leonard for the fourth straight game due to a left hip contusion and have gone 2-2.
Harden has picked up some of the scoring slack with Leonard not in the lineup. He is averaging 20.5 points in Leonard’s absence, which is three points more than his season average.
Photo: AP
“We didn’t expect to be a hit right away. And it still isn’t nowhere near we need to be,” said Harden, who had his sixth double-double of the season. “Tonight and over the last couple games, when someone like Kawhi is out you need me to score and play make a little bit more. We are learning each other more game by game. It’s obviously fun when you are winning.”
Ivica Zubac added a season-high 20 rebounds along with 15 points for his fifth double-double in his past seven games.
The Clippers had seven players score in double figures. At 19-12, they lead the Pacific Division by 0.5 games over the Sacramento Kings and are fourth in the West.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Jaren Jackson Jr and Marcus Smart scored 22 apiece for the Grizzlies. Ja Morant had 19 points and 10 assists. Morant is averaging 26.8 points in five games since coming back from a 25-game suspension to begin the season.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a different ballgame. A little more comfort in my job as I go out there and make it easier for them. Find them easier looks, that’s just my role on this team,” Morant said about the early results of his return.
The Clippers led for most of the game.
A dunk by Daniel Theis 30 seconds into the fourth quarter gave them a 96-75 advantage before Memphis began to rally.
Memphis scored 12 straight points to open a 22-9 run over a four-minute span. Smart’s three-pointer with 6 minutes, 3 seconds remaining got the Grizzlies to 105-97 before the Clippers extended their lead.
In Denver, Colorado, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points, including 17 in the decisive third quarter, as the Thunder overcame another efficient shooting game from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-93.
Gilgeous-Alexander topped 40 points for the fifth time this season and was four shy of his career best set last season.
He was 14 of 20 from the field and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts.
Elsewhere on Friday, it was:
‧ Celtics 120, Raptors 118
‧ Wizards 110, Nets 104
‧ Suns 133, Hornets 119
‧ Trail Blazers 134, Spurs 128
‧ Magic 117, Knicks 108
‧ Hawks 110, Kings 117
‧ Cavaliers 111, Bucks 119
‧ Rockets 127, 76ers 131
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