LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi
Leonard came to the bench with a message for his Los Angeles Clippers teammates.
“Told the guys, ‘Let’s get out and run, let’s play faster,’” coach Tyronn Lue said.
Behind 26 points from Paul George and Leonard’s season highs of 25 points and nine rebounds, the Clippers routed the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 113-93 on Monday night.
“When your two best players come back, that’s a lot of energy,” Lue said.
The Clippers’ defense held the Celtics under 100 points for the first time this season.
“We did a great job pretty much across the whole board,” George said.
Leonard also had six assists in his best all-around game of a young season that has been interrupted at times while he eases his way back from ACL surgery that cost him all of last season.
“Only my ninth game,” Leonard said. “You can’t rush it. Yeah, just got to keep moving.”
George has been hurt, too, although unlike Leonard, he’s no longer under a minutes restriction.
Jaylen Brown scored 21 points to lead the Celtics, who dropped two in a row for only the second time this season. They had won eight of 10, including a loss at Golden State on Saturday. Jayson Tatum added 20 points — well below his 30-point average — and 11 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon had 18 points off the bench.
Having the Celtics and their 21-7 record in town drew one of the Clippers’ biggest crowds of the season and created a playoff-like atmosphere. Boston fans showed out in the same colored gear as Marcus Smart’s green-hued hair.
But the Clippers made most of the noise.
Coming off a 2-2 East Coast trip, Los Angeles used a few big runs and solid defense to control the first half and take a 56-47 lead at the break.
Leonard and George came out shooting to start the third. They each hit a 3-pointer while combining for 13 straight points that extended the lead to 69-55. Luke Kennard came off the bench and keyed a 7-0 run late, hitting a 3 before John Wall’s jumper put the Clippers ahead 88-72 going into the fourth.