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SAN ANTONIO — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 36 points against his former team, and the Los Angeles Clippers snapped a two-game skid Friday night with a 131-126 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Clippers had lost 9 of 11 innings, but coach Tyrone Lue believed this was the start of a turnaround for his team.
“I felt it this morning,” Lou said. “I think having the staff back and everyone back in their roles will help us a lot. I am playing on the level.”
Seven players scored in double figures for the Clippers, including Norman Powell with 26 points and George with 16 points and 12 assists.
Los Angeles had a 63% field goal percentage, a 54% 3-pointer percentage, and 31 assists.
Keldon Johnson scored 23 points for San Antonio, with 9 of 11 for San Antonio. Josh Richardson scored 17 points, Zach Collins scored a season-high 17 points, and Jeremy Sawchan scored 16.
Leonard and George worked together for the third time in January. Leonard put on a show with the Spurs on the court where he won his NBA Finals MVP in 2014.
After losing 15 pounds, Leonard looked agile and landed three dunks like thunder.
“I feel a lot lighter and move a little better,” Leonard said. “I feel pretty good. I’ve played a few games in a row.”
The 6.7-foot forward went 18-for-13 from the field and 5-for-4 on 3-pointers, adding 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
“He was great,” said San Antonio manager Gregg Popovich. “He’s one of the best players in the league. We’re talking about the top of the list — he’s with them.
Leonard scored 13 points in less than three and a half minutes midway through the third quarter to give the Clippers a 93-90 lead. Leonard had three he-three-pointers and a vicious left-hander dunk during the run.
San Antonio didn’t have a separate answer for Leonard, but he shot 57% from the field, 54% on 3-pointers, and had 34 assists.
Leonard said, “We hit the shots and we won the game tonight. They shot 57%, we shot 63. We definitely have to improve. We’re going to shoot 63% every night. No. We have to make sure their percentage is much lower than that.
The Clippers scored 40 points in the first quarter against the Spurs on Nov. 19, beating out their opponents by scoring 41 points in the first quarter.
“I thought the team was great,” Popovich said. “They never give up. They’re playing more physically than they’ve been all year. They’re playing the right way and they’re helping. But I was really proud of our guys, they did a great job.”
tip in
Clippers: PG John Wall out with abdominal strain and G Luke Kennard out with right calf pain. …F Marcus Morris received his technical foul with 47 seconds left in the first half after he kept talking to Sochan, who stood opposite him at the line, after throwing a free ball. Morris’ twin brother, Markiev, skirmished with Sochan on Tuesday. Sochan rolled onto the court and took Morris with him. After the Nets forward set his screen hard, Sochan put his three fingers to his face following his three-pointer.
Spurs: San Antonio assistant coach Brett Brown missed the game due to “personal errands,” the team said. … San Antonio signed veteran his center Gorgidien to his 10-day contract for the second time.
Welcome back
Leonard was cheered by Spurs fans for the first time since leaving San Antonio to request a trade in 2018.
Leonard was honored before the game with a video showcasing his seven seasons in San Antonio. It was littered with boos, but without the level of ridicule he received in his previous appearances in San Antonio.
“It’s been a long road,” Leonard said. “The fans here are very competitive. It tells me how much you love the game and how much you love me as a person.So if I come here, I know it’s just a competition.I understand.”
next
Clippers: Sunday in Dallas.
Spurs: Monday in Portland.
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