Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points with 10 rebounds and Ivica Zubac added 21 points with eight boards as the Los Angeles Clippers won for the second time in two home games with a 114-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
James Harden added 20 points with 13 assists and John Collins scored 16 points as the Clippers continued to distance themselves from a season-opening road loss on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.
Los Angeles extended its winning streak to 12 games over Portland.
Deni Avdija scored 23 points and Jrue Holiday added 21 as the Trail Blazers fell in their second game under interim head coach Tiago Splitter. Head coach Chauncey Billups is out indefinitely after he was arrested on charges connected to an FBI gambling investigation.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 19 points, Jerami Grant added 17 and Donivan Clingan had 10 rebounds for Portland, which was playing its first road game of the season.
The Trail Blazers shot 37.0% from the floor but stayed in the game by going 28 of 34 from the free-throw line, while the Clippers made 14 of their 15 attempts.
Los Angeles led 98-88 with less than eight minutes remaining before Portland pulled within 98-93 with 7:26 remaining. The Clippers pushed the advantage to 109-98 with 4:22 left on an and-one layup and free throw from Collins.
Portland was 0-of-3 from 3-point range over the final two minutes with a turnover while scoring just two points.
The Clippers took a 34-23 lead after one quarter before the Trail Blazers began to assert themselves. Portland went on a 23-2 run in the second quarter to take a 55-44 lead, while holding a 60-55 lead at halftime.
The Trail Blazers turned eight Clippers turnovers in the second quarter into 12 points. Avdija and Holiday led Portland with 13 first-half points, while Leonard had 13 for the Clippers.
–Field Level Media
