Clippers Blow Out Undermanned Wizards 150-125
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Coach Doc Rivers called the first play of the game for Paul George and he hit a 3-pointer.
His teammates found him the rest of the way.
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, George added 31, and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past undermanned Washington 150-125 on Sunday night for their 12th win in a row over the Wizards at home.
''It's those new shoulders. He's just a great shooter,'' Rivers said of George. ''He's shooting deep shots on the move and doing it with great balance.''
Montrezl Harrell added 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds and Lou Williams had 22 points for the Clippers, who led all the way in improving to a franchise-best 12-1 at Staples Center.
''Their athletes are long, wiry and strong and defensive-minded,'' Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. ''On top of that, they can score. That's a great benefit.''
The Clippers shot 57% in taking a 27-point lead in the first half when George had 27 points.
''We just came out a little bit more aggressive as a unit,'' Williams said. ''We were very efficient on the offensive end. The shots we took a lot of times were ones we wanted to take.''
George and Leonard combined to score 10 of the Clippers' first 13 points in the third when they led 95-69.
The Wizards ran off 11 straight points to close within 15 in their only major spurt of the game.
From there, the Clippers outscored Washington 19-12 to lead 116-98 going into the fourth.
For the game, the Clippers shot 55%, owned a 66-46 edge in the paint and their bench outscored the Wizards reserves 73-39.
********Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, shoots as Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Los Angeles.
His teammates found him the rest of the way.
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, George added 31, and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past undermanned Washington 150-125 on Sunday night for their 12th win in a row over the Wizards at home.
''It's those new shoulders. He's just a great shooter,'' Rivers said of George. ''He's shooting deep shots on the move and doing it with great balance.''
Montrezl Harrell added 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds and Lou Williams had 22 points for the Clippers, who led all the way in improving to a franchise-best 12-1 at Staples Center.
''Their athletes are long, wiry and strong and defensive-minded,'' Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. ''On top of that, they can score. That's a great benefit.''
The Clippers shot 57% in taking a 27-point lead in the first half when George had 27 points.
''We just came out a little bit more aggressive as a unit,'' Williams said. ''We were very efficient on the offensive end. The shots we took a lot of times were ones we wanted to take.''
George and Leonard combined to score 10 of the Clippers' first 13 points in the third when they led 95-69.
The Wizards ran off 11 straight points to close within 15 in their only major spurt of the game.
From there, the Clippers outscored Washington 19-12 to lead 116-98 going into the fourth.
For the game, the Clippers shot 55%, owned a 66-46 edge in the paint and their bench outscored the Wizards reserves 73-39.
********Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, shoots as Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Los Angeles.