Game Recap: Suns Edge Out Clippers

The game featured two teams that were vastly different from their previous postseason encounter. The Clippers, who entered the second half trailing by 13 points, mounted a strong comeback effort. However, their resurgence was not enough to overtake the Suns, who held their ground for a 111-109 victory. The game was hard-fought, with both teams showing resilience throughout, but ultimately, Phoenix prevailed to claim their third win over the Clippers this season.

After the game, Devin Booker, the Suns’ game-high scorer, reflected on the team’s performance and their outlook for the future. He emphasized that while a championship was the ultimate goal, the team had areas to improve. “We wouldn’t put a limit to what we gotta do, but obviously a championship’s the goal,” Booker remarked. His comments highlighted the importance of the regular season as an opportunity for growth and fine-tuning as the Suns work toward their larger objectives.

Key Contributors to the Suns’ Victory

Booker’s 50-point contribution was pivotal to the Suns’ win, but he was not alone in his efforts. Teammates Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen, and Tyus Jones also played significant roles in securing the victory. Durant’s scoring ability, along with Allen and Jones’ strong outings, helped Phoenix overcome the Clippers’ challenge. Despite the Clippers holding a better overall record this season, the Suns have proven dominant in their head-to-head matchups.

The Clippers will have one last chance to avoid a season sweep when they travel back to Phoenix on March 4th. With the Suns having won all three matchups so far this season, the Clippers will be eager to prove themselves and get a much-needed win in the series. The game promises to be another intense showdown as both teams continue their push toward the playoffs.

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Despite the Suns’ recent success, there is tension between former starting center Jusuf Nurkic and coach Mike Budenholzer.

After the Suns’ win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Nurkic said that he and Budenholzer hadn’t spoken in two months and had “no relationship.”

Nurkic explained that his goal is to “just be a pro and do the best I can,” according to the Arizona Republic.

“Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have plenty of it. Trying to be as professional as I can and work my ass off for something else.”

Budenholzer responded that there has been communication between them but emphasized that playing time would go to those who earned it.

“There’s been communication, but you know, we got three or four guys who play the same position,” the coach said. “We’re going to go with who gives us our best chance. You’ve got to earn your minutes, and that’s been communicated.”

Nurkic hasn’t played in the last nine games, and the Suns have gone 7-2 during that stretch.

Phoenix also traded for Nick Richards from Charlotte on Jan. 15, and the 7-foot center has posted two double-doubles in his four games with the Suns, including 20 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in the 119-109 win over Washington.

“There are other things I have to step up on,” Richards said. “They have challenged me to do more.”

The Clippers, sitting sixth in the Western Conference, are starting a four-game road trip. They are coming off a 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

James Harden scored 40 points, and Norman Powell added 33 for the Clippers. Powell has thrived in a starting role this season, averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game.

“He puts in the work every single day to get better,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “The last four to five years, he has wanted to be a starter, and now he’s gotten his opportunity and has made the most of it.”

The Clippers boast the third-best defense in the NBA, allowing just 106.8 points per game. In their win on Saturday, they committed only seven turnovers, far below their season average of 16.2.

“It could be anybody’s night on this team if we’re playing ball the right way,” Lue said. “(On Saturday) it was James and Norm. I thought we did a great job handling the zone and getting some big shots.”

Phoenix defeated the Clippers twice in Los Angeles in October, winning by a combined nine points.

Kevin Durant leads the Suns with 27.2 points per game, followed by Devin Booker with 25.5.

“There were good spurts in the game and bad spurts,” Booker said after Saturday’s win. “I think our true tests are coming up this week. We’ve got to get ready for the Clippers on Monday.”

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The Lakers will travel to the new $2 billion arena of the Los Angeles Clippers, located just a mile away from The Forum, the Lakers’ former home. This game will also be the first of four matchups between the two teams this season, with all games wrapping up by March 2.

The Lakers come into the game after winning two straight, including a close 102-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. In that game, star player Anthony Davis watched from the bench due to plantar fasciitis. The Lakers almost lost an eight-point lead with 3:45 left but managed to hold on. Austin Reaves scored a career-high 38 points, with 15 of them coming in the final quarter. LeBron James added 29 points and eight assists.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick expects Davis to return on Sunday.

Reaves, who was filling in for Davis, has taken on a larger role in the offense since the trade of point guard D’Angelo Russell to the Nets on December 29. LeBron James praised Reaves for stepping up and said, “He’s in his process and he’s taking the opportunity and running with it, literally running with it.

And I love every moment that he’s given the opportunity to go out and showcase his talent with the best players in the world, and he’s showing every night that he belongs. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

The Clippers, on a three-game winning streak, recently crushed the Nets 126-67 on Wednesday. Brooklyn then almost pulled off an upset against the Lakers.

The Clippers’ most recent win was a 118-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Norman Powell led the team with 23 points, and James Harden added 19. The Clippers shot 56.4% from the floor, including 43.5% from beyond the arc.

Kawhi Leonard, who has played in only four games this season due to knee issues, sat out against Portland on the second night of a back-to-back. However, he returned to the court with a season-high 23 points against the Nets, shooting 8-of-11 from the field.

Leonard is expected to play against the Lakers, having logged a season-high 24 minutes in the previous game. Head coach Tyronn Lue has encouraged Leonard to take on a bigger role in the offense.

Leonard commented on his performance, saying, “It felt good, but like I said before, I’m taking my time. Just because I made shots doesn’t mean (everything), to me at least. It’s about how I’m moving and feeling. We pushed my minutes up from the last three, so tonight I was able to play 24 minutes. (Lue) allowed me to bring the ball up and get us into the pace of the offense. I thought that helped a little bit.”

The Clippers now face a tough stretch of games, playing four games in five nights. After facing the Lakers on Sunday, they will quickly turn around to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday, followed by games against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday and the Washington Wizards on Thursday. All these games will be at home, where the Clippers have a strong 14-6 record.

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The Clippers’ first game in this nine-day stretch ended in a 126-67 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at the Intuit Dome, marking the largest margin of victory in franchise history.

Kawhi Leonard played for 23 minutes and 49 seconds, scoring 23 points, which was a season-high. He made 8 of 11 shots from the field and led the Clippers in scoring. James Harden contributed 21 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds in the win, which saw the Clippers leading by as much as 64 points.

Harden also surpassed Dominique Wilkins on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, moving into 15th place with 26,681 career points.

Harden spoke about not fully grasping the significance of his achievements in the moment. “We’ll figure that out when it’s all done,” he said. “But right now, it’s just I got to keep going. I got to keep getting closer and breaking more records. When it’s all said and done, which I’ll have a lot of time after, I can sit back and realize what I actually accomplished in my life. But for now, I’m in the moment. I just keep going.”

With the NBA announcing its rescheduled games earlier in the day, the Clippers now face five games next week, including two sets of back-to-backs. Despite this busy schedule, the Clippers managed to get a good start, with no starter playing more than 24 minutes. The win improved their record to 22-17 as they head into the next game against Portland on Thursday.

The Clippers took control of the game by outscoring the Nets 37-14 in the second quarter and then adding a 44-16 run in the third quarter. Coach Tyronn Lue praised the team’s focus in the third quarter, saying, “So, we just had to have a professional mindset coming out in that third quarter and we did that. Our guys were able to get some rest going into tomorrow to a back-to-back.”

Next week’s schedule will be challenging. The Clippers’ game against the Chicago Bulls, originally set for Wednesday, has been moved to Monday, creating a back-to-back situation since they will play the Lakers on Sunday.

They also have a game against the Washington Wizards, which was rescheduled from March 16 to January 23, the day after they host the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Clippers will finish the week with a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 25.

The postponed game against Charlotte, which was set for last Saturday, has been rescheduled for March 16. Similarly, their February 13 game against Utah is now set for March 19. Fans who purchased tickets for these games can use them on the rescheduled dates.

With Leonard playing in just his fourth game of the season, the Clippers plan to be cautious with their star player during this busy stretch. Coach Lue mentioned that the medical staff would create a plan to manage Leonard’s playing time, which includes him sitting out Thursday’s game in Portland.

“We’ve played, I think, pretty much the top-two hardest schedules in the league so far this year. It just adds to it,” Lue said. “So, we just got to take it game by game. Can’t fall victim to the schedule. It’s out of the NBA’s hands what happened to our city and so we understand that. So, we just got to lock in.”

Leonard spoke about how he’s assessing his own performance and his focus on his movements. “Like I said, just seeing how I move, if I’m able to still slide or get to do certain things,” Leonard said.

Clippers wingman Terance Mann, who didn’t play in Monday’s game against Miami, also missed the second half against the Nets due to left calf soreness. He had five points before leaving the game.

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Clippers coach Tyronn Lue commented, saying that the decision is out of his hands, but he trusts the NBA’s judgment. He added, “They know we’re going through a tough time right now in California, and they understand that.

Hopefully, we can bring some joy with the game coming back tomorrow and some togetherness, as you may, and try to put some smiles on people’s faces in tough times.”

The NBA had previously postponed games between the Spurs and Lakers and the Hornets and Clippers, which will be rescheduled. The league has also pledged $1 million for immediate relief to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and other organizations.

The Lakers will host a donation drive at home games starting Monday, where fans can bring unused, unopened items to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Approximately 105,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders due to the wildfires. At least 16 people have died, and the Palisades Fire is the most destructive in L.A.’s history, destroying more than 5,600 structures over 24,000 acres.

Lue reflected on the devastating effects of the fires, saying, “Just seeing families and people lose their houses, lose their businesses, lose loved ones. It’s pretty devastating, and it’s tough to really fathom what they’re going through right now.”

Spurs guard Chris Paul, who lives in Los Angeles and previously played for the Clippers, expressed his concern after his team’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Paul mentioned that his wife and children had evacuated their home on Tuesday, saying, “It’s definitely scary, everything that is going on. I’m sending so much love and prayers to some of my closest friends and family who have lost everything.”

Clippers forward Nicolas Batum described the unsettling experience of playing in Denver while evacuations were happening in Los Angeles. “I was on the phone with my family all day. I didn’t sleep that night,” he shared. “Just to make sure my wife and kids were OK.”

The Spurs arrived in Santa Monica on Thursday but decided to move to a hotel in downtown Los Angeles for safety reasons. The NBA had also postponed Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the Hornets at Crypto.com Arena, which has not yet been rescheduled.

Lakers coach JJ Redick, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, is also affected by the situation. After Monday’s games, the Lakers are scheduled to host the Heat on Wednesday, and the Clippers will face the Brooklyn Nets on the same day.

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Despite the excitement surrounding Leonard’s return, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the need for caution, implementing a minutes restriction for the star player. Lue likened Leonard’s current situation to a preseason and training camp scenario, noting the importance of a gradual reintegration into the team. The coach highlighted that Leonard had missed significant preparation time compared to his teammates, who had already played 30-35 games this season.

Leonard’s knee problems have been a long-standing challenge. He missed the entire 2021-22 season and portions of the previous season due to knee issues, playing 68 games but sitting out 12 of the last 14 with knee inflammation. This persistent concern also cost Leonard his place on the Olympic team, as he was deemed unfit during training camp in Las Vegas. His history underscores the importance of a cautious and measured approach to his return.

Adding to the Clippers’ positive news, Terance Mann also rejoined the lineup after recovering from a broken left middle finger that kept him out for 10 games. With Leonard and Mann back in action, the Clippers face the challenge of integrating them into the rotation. Coach Lue acknowledged the complexities of finding the right combinations of players to maximize team chemistry and performance as the season progresses.

The return of Kawhi Leonard is a significant boost for the Clippers, who entered Saturday’s game with a 19-15 record and a seventh-place standing in the Western Conference. While Leonard’s presence on the court is promising, the team must carefully manage his playing time to maintain his health and ensure long-term success. Balancing his integration with the team’s performance will be a key focus as the Clippers aim to climb higher in the standings.

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The Los Angeles Clippers updated Leonard’s status from out to questionable on their injury report Friday night, suggesting he could make his season debut on Saturday when the team faces the Atlanta Hawks.

Leonard has been recovering from a right knee injury and hasn’t played since April 26, when he participated in Game 3 of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against Dallas. He missed 12 of the Clippers’ final 14 games last season due to right knee inflammation.

Despite this, Leonard felt he was healthy enough to play for USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics this past summer. He was selected for the Olympic team and brought to Las Vegas for training camp.

However, the U.S. team decided his knee couldn’t handle the demands of playing and sent him home, replacing him with Derrick White on the team that eventually won gold at the Paris Games.

Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, six-time All-Star, and six-time All-NBA player. However, injuries have been a common issue throughout his career.

Over the past eight years, he has missed 290 regular-season games, including the entire 2021-22 season due to knee problems. Last season, he played 68 games for the Clippers, his highest total since playing 74 games for San Antonio in the 2016-17 season.

“This is just my journey,” Leonard said this past summer when talking about his injuries. “I can’t lay out the perfect script for me. Last year I tried to play as much as possible, felt great and at a certain period of time I couldn’t go. I tried the best that I could, but it’s just my journey. … I motivate a lot of people, so I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Leonard, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, has averaged 20 points per game in his career.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points, while Jalen Williams added 18, helping Oklahoma City get closer to tying the franchise’s record for consecutive wins. Before becoming the Thunder in 2008, the Seattle Supersonics, with a 64-18 record, won 14 straight games during the 1995-96 season.

Oklahoma City’s defense took over in the third quarter, where they forced seven turnovers and turned them into 17 points, outscoring the Clippers 42-20. The Thunder scored a total of 31 points off turnovers in the game, leading the NBA in that category.

The Clippers, missing James Harden due to right groin soreness, have now lost two straight games. This was just the second game Harden has missed this season.

In the last two games, Oklahoma City has outscored its opponents 85-43 in the third quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the third quarter alone, including six free throws. He finished the game making 9 of 17 shots from the field and hitting all nine of his free throws.

Unlike in their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the Thunder didn’t allow a late-game comeback attempt by the Clippers.

This allowed Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to rest Gilgeous-Alexander for the entire fourth quarter, as it was the first game of a back-to-back.

The Clippers’ leading scorer, Norman Powell, had a tough night, missing his first 10 shots and making his first basket only four minutes into the fourth quarter. He finished with a season-low six points on 1-of-11 shooting.

Amir Coffey led Los Angeles with a season-high 26 points.

While the Clippers started strong, hitting seven of their first 10 shots, the Thunder struggled early, especially from three-point range. Oklahoma City made just one of nine attempts from beyond the arc in the first quarter, and the Clippers finished the period with a 10-2 run, leading by eight at the end of the first.

The Clippers pushed their lead to 16 points in the second quarter, after stretching their run to 20-4. But, similar to their performance on Tuesday, Oklahoma City gained some momentum heading into the third.

The Thunder cut the deficit to four with a running pull-up jumper by Jalen Williams just before the halftime buzzer. Williams finished with 18 points. The Thunder will look to extend their streak to 14 games on Friday against the New York Knicks.

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During this stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander has been putting up impressive numbers: 33.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 56.6%.

“I feel like I’m flowing,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “I’m not pressing, I’m not thinking, I’m just out there hoopin’. The hard work is paying off.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, who started his career with the Clippers before being traded to Oklahoma City in 2019, had a huge game last Tuesday, scoring 40 points with four steals in the Thunder’s 113-105 win over Minnesota. In the last matchup between the Thunder and Clippers on November 11, a 134-128 win for Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points.

Despite the absence of Chet Holmgren, who is out with a hip injury, offseason addition Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped up and made a difference for the Thunder. Hartenstein praised Gilgeous-Alexander, saying, “It’s weird… it feels like he’s not forcing it.

He’s not going out there thinking about himself. He’s going out there trying to help the team, and he’s still getting 40. That’s why I think he should be the MVP this year.”

The Thunder are 16-1 since Hartenstein’s debut, with him earning 13 double-doubles during that time.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are coming off a tough loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 122-86, on Tuesday. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said, “Mentally we’ve got to be tougher and we’ve got to be better.” The Thunder have won both of the first two meetings between the teams this season, largely due to the Clippers’ high number of turnovers, totaling 46 in the two games, leading to 55 points for Oklahoma City.

Lue acknowledged that the Clippers need to limit turnovers against a team like the Thunder, who are excellent at scoring.

The Clippers are also looking forward to the return of their star player, Kawhi Leonard, who has missed the season so far due to right knee inflammation. Leonard has been ramping up his activity and could make his season debut against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Despite Leonard’s absence, the Clippers are holding strong in sixth place in the Western Conference.

Clippers guard James Harden believes Leonard is mindful of the team’s current chemistry and wants to fit in without disrupting their flow: “He feels like he doesn’t want to come over and just mess up the flow and chemistry that we have been building up. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”

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The Clippers, coming off a win in New Orleans the previous night, struggled throughout the game. Their performance was hurt by Wembanyama’s dominant start and the Spurs’ aggressive play.

Wembanyama scored 17 points in the first quarter alone, matching the total points of the entire Clippers team. By the end of the first half, San Antonio led by 25 points, and their advantage grew to 28 by the end of the third quarter. The Spurs led by as many as 41 points in the final moments of the game.

Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle were key contributors off the bench for the Spurs, adding 17 and 15 points, respectively. Harrison Barnes chipped in with 11 points. The Spurs picked up their second win in three games, and this was their biggest margin of victory this season.

James Harden led the Clippers with 17 points, with 13 of those coming in the first quarter. Norman Powell finished with 15 points, and Amir Coffey scored 14, but the Clippers saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

The Spurs never trailed, starting the game with six quick points and building a lead to 18-8 on a jumper from Devin Vassell. Wembanyama scored nine of San Antonio’s last 11 points in the first quarter, and the Spurs ended the period with a 31-17 lead.

San Antonio’s lead grew to 20 points in the second quarter after a 3-pointer from Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama dunked off a steal by Chris Paul, and the Spurs’ lead reached 25 points before Powell’s layup made it 63-43 at halftime.

Wembanyama led all players at halftime with 21 points and seven rebounds, while the Spurs shot 50 percent compared to the Clippers’ 35.9 percent. Harden led the Clippers with 13 points, and Powell had 12.

Los Angeles never got closer than 19 points in the second half. The Spurs extended their lead to 86-57 after Johnson’s dunk with 3:22 left in the third quarter, heading into the final period with a 91-63 advantage.

San Antonio finished the game outshooting Los Angeles 49 percent to 34.5 percent.

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The Clippers arrive in San Antonio for the second game of a back-to-back after a 116-113 win in New Orleans on Monday. James Harden hit four crucial free throws in the last 18 seconds to secure the win, with Los Angeles overcoming a 14-point deficit late in the second quarter.

Norman Powell led the team with 35 points, while Harden finished with 27, helping the Clippers win five of their last six games.

Tuesday’s game is the middle of a three-game road trip for Los Angeles, which ends in Oklahoma City on Thursday.

The Clippers won the first meeting with the Spurs this season, 113-104, at home on November 4, with Powell scoring 23 points.

Harden is well aware of the challenge Wembanyama presents. In their last game, Wembanyama put up 24 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked nine shots.

“Beast — on both ends,” Harden said about the second-year French star. “And his shot looks way more confident, he’s shooting it with confidence.

Defensively, he’s active, blocking shots. He’s doing it all. Guys like us are leaving and guys like Wemby are coming in. We thought we’ve never seen certain players before, and then Wemby comes in. Like, come on.”

The Spurs are returning home after a four-game road trip that ended with a 112-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

They lost three of the four games on the trip by a total of 10 points, falling to Philadelphia by five, the Knicks by three, and beating the Brooklyn Nets by nine.

“I think we felt what road NBA basketball looks like against good teams,” said San Antonio acting coach Mitch Johnson. “There are some takeaways that we should feel really good about, and some takeaways that’ll give us much to do, to get back to work when we get back home.”

Wembanyama led the Spurs with 34 points in Minneapolis, marking his eighth game of the season with 30 or more points. It was also the ninth straight game and 21st time in 27 games this season that Wembanyama led the team in scoring.

The Spurs nearly pulled off a comeback against Minnesota, rallying from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to take a 101-98 lead with 6:35 left, but they couldn’t close the game out.

“Our late-game execution is an area of (needed) improvement for us,” said Harrison Barnes, who scored 24 points on Sunday. “We put ourselves in position. We battled for 44, 46 minutes, to give ourselves a chance to win, and then just finishing out games is something that we can get better at.”

Tuesday’s game is one of only two home games for the Spurs in the next two weeks. After a back-to-back with Denver on Friday and Saturday, San Antonio will head out on a road trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, and then Los Angeles for two games against the Lakers.

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Ivica Zubac contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks, while Derrick Jones Jr. scored 14 points, and Kris Dunn had 13 for the Clippers, who won their fourth game in the last five and improved to 3-0 against the Warriors this season.

The Clippers managed to hold on for the win despite being outscored 30-21 in the fourth quarter and nearly losing a 19-point lead.

Jonathan Kuminga scored 15 of his 34 points in the final period and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Trayce Jackson-Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors. The Warriors were missing Draymond Green (back) and Gary Payton II (calf) as well.

Despite missing key players, the Warriors led 21-19 after the first quarter and had a four-point lead in the second. However, the Clippers hit two 3-pointers in the last minute of the second quarter to take a 49-43 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Clippers started to take control, pushing their lead to 59-49 with 7:38 left in the third. Golden State struggled, making only one field goal in the last four minutes of the third, allowing the Clippers to extend their lead to 81-62.

The Warriors applied heavy defense in the fourth quarter, forcing the Clippers to only score one field goal in the first seven minutes, cutting the lead to 85-80. Moses Moody’s 3-pointer made it 91-88 with 2:30 left.

The Clippers sealed the win when Zubac blocked a dunk attempt by Moody with 1:11 remaining, and Powell quickly scored a layup for a 98-88 lead. Los Angeles committed 12 of their 23 turnovers in the fourth quarter.

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While the Clippers are getting closer to the season debut of Kawhi Leonard, the Warriors are considering giving Stephen Curry a rest on the first night of a back-to-back, which includes a home game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Leonard has not played this season due to a chronic knee issue, but he returned to contact practices before the Clippers went on a three-game road trip last week. Head coach Tyronn Lue stated that Leonard needs to participate in full practices before the team will consider his return.

The Clippers have won three of their last four games, marking another high point in a season full of ups and downs. One of their most impressive wins came on Monday, when they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 114-110 on the road.

Norman Powell had a strong game, scoring 29 points and making 4 of 8 three-pointers. James Harden contributed 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, playing a key point guard role. Ivica Zubac dominated inside with 20 points, 19 rebounds, and four steals.

“Everybody’s involved,” Lue said. “It’s not coaches and players. We’re all on the same team and that’s how we treat each other. It’s not this side and that side. We’re all together. We win together, we lose together, we make mistakes together. That’s who we are.”

The Clippers’ teamwork has been crucial to their success on defense, which was evident in their ability to hold Memphis to 20 points in the fourth quarter. Memphis, which averages the most points in the NBA at 122.7 per game, was limited well below their usual scoring.

“To hold them to 110 on their home floor says a lot about what we’re doing defensively,” Lue said.

On Christmas Day, Curry nearly led the Warriors to a comeback win by scoring eight points in the final 25.7 seconds, including two three-pointers in the last 12.9 seconds. However, the Warriors couldn’t overcome a 109-100 deficit with 1:30 left, despite Curry tying the game with a three-pointer at 7.6 seconds.

Curry finished with 38 points in what head coach Steve Kerr called a “hard” 36 minutes. Andrew Wiggins added 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Before the game, Curry held a players-only meeting to emphasize the importance of the upcoming stretch of games. Despite the loss, the message seemed to have been heard, with Curry leading by example.

“We’re right in that window where we can still regain some momentum for the next however many weeks before the (All-Star) break,” Curry said. “Or else we’re in a situation where we’re chasing down the stretch and nobody wants to be there.”

Although Golden State showed effort on Wednesday, the reality is they have lost five of their last six games.

“We had a great vibe early in the season and we’re going through it right now, but I love our guys,” Kerr said. “High-character guys. They care.”

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Harden outscored the Jazz 24-20 in the first quarter, shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 5 of 7 from 3-point range. He was also fouled twice while shooting 3-pointers in the opening quarter, making 7 of 8 free throws.

Ivica Zubac finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Amir Coffey added 16 points for Los Angeles, which improved to 10-6 at home. This was the highest-scoring game for the Clippers this season.

Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, and Lauri Markkanen had 17 for the Jazz, who lost their third straight game. Utah has now lost 8 of its last 9 games and 12 of the last 14.

Collin Sexton scored 15 points, and John Collins added 14 points for the Jazz, who dropped to 3-10 on the road.

The Clippers quickly jumped to a 12-3 lead. Harden then scored his team’s next eight points, helping Los Angeles take a 20-7 lead just five minutes into the game. Harden also hit two 3-pointers in the final 34 seconds of the first quarter, giving the Clippers a 44-20 lead.

Los Angeles took an 81-47 lead into halftime, marking their highest point total in a first half since a game against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 1, 2019. The Clippers shot 63.4 percent in the first half and made 65 percent of their 3-point attempts (13 of 20).

Utah shot 39 percent from the field in the first half and 31.6 percent (6 of 19) from 3-point range.

The game was never close in the second half, with the Clippers shooting 59.8 percent for the game and 53.8 percent (21 of 39) from beyond the arc. The Jazz finished with a 45 percent shooting rate overall and 33.3 percent (13 of 39) from 3-point range.

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Nikola Jokic contributed 16 points, while Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each scored 14. Jokic, who had scored a combined 104 points in the previous two games without Murray, allowed others to take charge and matched his lowest scoring game of the season.

This game was the second of three scheduled matchups between the teams in Denver, added after NBA Cup group play concluded.

Kevin Porter Jr. and Norman Powell both scored 16 points for the Clippers, who lost their third straight game, tying their season-high streak. James Harden finished with 15 points, and Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard, who returned to practice this week after a knee injury, is still not ready for his season debut.

The Clippers led 55-50 early in the second half, but the Nuggets quickly reclaimed the lead at 59-58 less than five minutes into the third quarter. Denver then went on a 14-2 run to build a 73-60 lead.

The Nuggets extended their advantage to 83-69 heading into the final quarter, with Michael Porter scoring 12 points in the third, while the team shot 57.9 percent.

Denver pushed their lead to 20 points at 98-78 with 7:44 left after Watson’s two free throws and maintained control of the game from there.

Despite a slow start, the Clippers went on an 18-0 run in the second quarter to take a 44-38 lead. However, the Nuggets regained the lead at 48-47 by halftime, with Jokic and Gordon each contributing nine points and five rebounds.

Russell Westbrook, playing against his former team for the third time this season, had five points and five assists in 24 minutes off the bench for Denver.

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The Nuggets had been struggling with seven losses in 11 games, including one of their two defeats against the Clippers this season. However, they broke out offensively with a 141-111 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Nikola Jokic led the way with 48 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.

Jokic, who has won three MVP awards in the last four years, is aiming for another MVP this season. He currently leads the NBA in rebounds with 13.6 per game and ranks second in both points (32.3) and assists (10.2). He scored 104 points over the past two games, but his 56-point performance on Saturday ended in a loss to the Washington Wizards.

Jokic’s scoring surge comes as Jamal Murray deals with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the past two games. Murray is expected to be questionable for Friday’s game. Dario Saric is also expected to return after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

In his first season with the Nuggets, Russell Westbrook, who previously played for the Clippers, has averaged 6.4 assists per game. With Murray sidelined, Westbrook has stepped up, averaging 11.5 assists in the past two games.

“When Russ is out there with Nikola, he’s just always looking for him,” said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. “He’s always trying to find him. And that makes complete sense to me. You’re playing with the best player in the world. You might want to give him the ball.”

Norman Powell has been the key player for the Clippers, averaging 32.5 points in their two wins against the Nuggets. Powell leads the Clippers with 23.6 points per game this season.

Although Powell has returned from a hamstring injury, James Harden (groin) missed Sunday’s 117-106 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and Terance Mann (finger) was also absent. Kawhi Leonard (knee) has not played this season but has finally returned to practice as he gets closer to making his season debut.

Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue hoped to keep the team competitive until Leonard’s return, and their 14-11 record through the first two months suggests they have done so. While Leonard won’t travel with the team for Friday’s game, his return to practice has provided a boost.

“It raised our energy just for our guys to see him on the floor,” Lue said. “It brought a juice to our team, so we needed that jolt, especially going through the schedule we’ve been through. It was really good to see him out there.”

While waiting for Leonard’s return, the Clippers have focused on defense, which is allowing only 107.4 points per game, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.

James Harden, 35, has been playing at a high level for the Clippers, averaging 21.6 points, his highest since the 2021-22 season. He has also contributed 8.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds while playing in 24 of 25 games.

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Dillon Brooks scored 19 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 13 points along with 12 rebounds as the Rockets finished their three-game road trip in California with a 1-2 record after losing to Sacramento and Golden State. Alperen Sengun contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Aaron Holiday also scored 11 points.

The Rockets won without Fred VanVleet, who missed the game due to a right knee contusion, his second absence of the season. Tari Eason was also out due to concussion protocol, missing his second straight game.

Ivica Zubac scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Clippers, while Norman Powell added 17 points. The Clippers were without James Harden, who was sidelined with right groin soreness.

Los Angeles has been without Kawhi Leonard all season due to a knee issue, and Terance Mann, who has a fractured finger, missed his second consecutive game.

Kevin Porter Jr. returned for the Rockets after missing three games with an ankle injury and scored 19 points. The Clippers lost their second straight home game after a nine-game winning streak in their new arena.

Houston, which led by as much as 14 points in the first half, extended its lead to 16 in the third quarter and was ahead 95-83 going into the fourth. The Rockets never faced a serious challenge in the final period and improved to 3-0 against the Clippers after winning two games in Houston in November.

The Rockets shot 48.8 percent from the field, while the Clippers made 44.6 percent of their shots. Houston also won the rebounding battle 50-33.

The Rockets led 30-28 after the first quarter with 54.2 percent shooting, then dominated the second quarter to take a 64-52 lead at halftime. Green scored 11 points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half, while Brooks added 14 points before the break.

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Anthony Edwards added 16 points, Josh Minott scored 13, and Jaden McDaniels and Mike Conley each had 11 for Minnesota. The Timberwolves have been improving after a four-game losing streak, which Edwards had criticized last week, mentioning issues with team effort and communication.

Their renewed focus started on Friday with a 93-92 win over the Clippers in Minneapolis.

For the Clippers, Bones Hyland scored 18 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 14. Amir Coffey finished with 12 points, and Ivica Zubac grabbed 10 rebounds. Los Angeles saw their nine-game home winning streak come to an end, and this was just their third loss in their last 11 games.

The Clippers were missing their leading scorer Norman Powell, who was out on the second night of a back-to-back after recently returning from a hamstring injury. Terance Mann (finger) and Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) were also unavailable.

Minnesota came out strong, quickly building a double-digit lead at 22-12 and finishing the first quarter with a 33-14 advantage after shooting 52.4 percent from the floor.

The Timberwolves’ lead grew as large as 29 points in the second quarter, and they went into halftime with a 59-32 lead.

The Clippers struggled, with James Harden shooting 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first half, as the team made only 28.6 percent of their shots. Harden ended the game with just five points on 1-for-10 shooting.

Minnesota continued to dominate in the second half, pushing their lead to 30 points early on, and went ahead by more than 40 points at 86-45 after a dunk by Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 2:03 left in the third quarter.

With the Clippers missing key players, Cam Christie and Trentyn Flowers made their NBA debuts. Christie scored his first points with a fastbreak dunk late in the third quarter and finished with five points, while Flowers scored nine points, all in the fourth quarter.

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The Timberwolves were on a four-game losing streak last week and had lost seven of their last nine games when star player Anthony Edwards spoke out about the team’s selfishness. Four of those seven losses were on the road.

After Edwards expressed his concerns, the Timberwolves bounced back with a 93-92 win over the Clippers at home on Friday, followed by a 109-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Edwards had a tough night against the Lakers, scoring only eight points on 3-of-13 shooting. However, Julius Randle stepped up with 18 points, Rudy Gobert added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid each contributed 15 points off the bench.

“Guys are in a good place mentally,” said Minnesota coach Chris Finch after the win. “A lot of things have been said in the locker room with great purpose and meaning, and guys have taken it to heart and still maintained a good camaraderie, a good spirit and positivity around all that.”

Edwards had also called out the team for their lack of communication, describing them as “just a bunch of little kids” and saying they were “soft.”

The Timberwolves will need to show toughness again on Wednesday if they want to beat the Clippers for the second time in six days, especially against the Clippers’ strong defense.

The Clippers are coming off a 127-105 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, which extended their home winning streak to nine games.

Norman Powell, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, scored 30 points, and James Harden added 23 points and seven assists. The Clippers made 51.4 percent of their 3-point shots, hitting 19 of 37 attempts.

With Paul George now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and Kawhi Leonard dealing with a knee injury, Powell has stepped up as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 23.9 points per game. Even a six-game injury absence didn’t slow him down.

“People can see his work finally starting to pay off, being a scorer, scoring the basketball like he’s doing, getting the kind of attention he’s getting,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said about Powell. “He’s wanted to prove to people that he’s a starter … and he’s taken advantage of it.”

When the Clippers lost their first four games in their new arena, one of those losses came against Portland. They made up for it on Tuesday by focusing more on offense than defense.

“I thought we really read the defense (against Portland) and made the right plays,” Lue said. “Having 29 assists, and for us to be able to handle their pressure, that was good for us.”

The Clippers played their second straight game on Tuesday without Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle), and Terance Mann left the game in the third quarter with a fractured middle finger on his left hand.

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Amir Coffey scored 19 points, Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 points, and Ivica Zubac grabbed 10 rebounds as the Clippers bounced back from one of their four straight home losses right after their new $2 billion arena opened.

Powell has averaged 29.0 points in the two games since returning from a hamstring injury and has scored 30 or more points in a game five times this season.

Deandre Ayton scored 16 points, and Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each added 15 points for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fourth game in the last five and their seventh out of their last eight road games. Dalano Banton scored 14 points, and Jerami Grant added 12 for Portland.

This was the final NBA Cup group-play game for both teams. The Blazers were eliminated from the knockout round with the loss, while the Clippers were also eliminated after tiebreakers.

Los Angeles started strong, taking a double-digit lead early in the first quarter and leading by as much as 12 in the opening period. However, Portland came back to take the lead just over two minutes into the second quarter.

The Clippers led 63-58 at halftime, and the game stayed close into the third quarter until the Clippers went on an 11-0 run to take an 83-70 lead. Los Angeles ended the third quarter with a 91-78 advantage after Harden scored 12 points in the period.

In the final quarter, Jordan Miller scored five points during an 8-0 run to help the Clippers push their lead to 99-78 with 10:03 left, and they cruised to the win from there. Miller finished with 14 points.

The Clippers were without Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) and lost Terance Mann (finger) in the third quarter. The Trail Blazers were missing Scoot Henderson (quad), Donovan Clingan (knee), and Robert Williams III (concussion protocol).

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Harden made six 3-pointers and played the entire second half, while Norman Powell, returning from a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury, made five 3-pointers and finished with 28 points in 25 minutes.

Nikola Jokic had a strong performance for Denver, recording 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. His eighth triple-double of the season and 138th of his career tied him with Magic Johnson for third on the all-time triple-double list. Jokic now trails only Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson.

The Clippers extended their home win streak to eight games, though the victory was slightly marred by an injury to Amir Coffey, who had 13 points before injuring his knee after a collision with teammate Ivica Zubac in the third quarter.

Jamal Murray’s three-pointer with one minute left, followed by a putback from Christian Braun with 19.9 seconds remaining, cut the Clippers’ lead to just two points, 123-121.

Both Zubac and Jokic made one free throw each, before Harden sealed the game with two free throws, finishing 13-for-13 from the line.

Powell came out strong from the start, and Kris Dunn was effective defensively, helping Los Angeles jump to an 11-2 lead. Jokic led Denver’s comeback with 15 points in the first quarter, trimming the Clippers’ lead to 32-23 after the first.

Jordan Miller provided an offensive spark off the bench for the Clippers, scoring eight quick points in the second quarter, but Denver responded with an 11-0 run to take a 46-43 lead with 5:39 left in the half. The game was tied at 59 at halftime.

The Nuggets led 80-70 in the third quarter before Harden and Powell made three 3-pointers each in the final minutes of the period, helping the Clippers regain a 92-90 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

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After a 2-2 road trip, including a tough 93-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Cup play on Friday, the Clippers are back in Los Angeles.

In that game, James Harden’s four-point play gave the Clippers a 90-87 lead with 4:10 left. However, the Timberwolves responded with a steal and dunk, a go-ahead 3-pointer, and a free throw to seal the win.

Despite the tough loss, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue focused on the positive aspects, especially his team’s defense.

“I liked our defense all night,” Lue said. “I thought it was going to be hard for them to score on us — which it was. … To hold this team to 40 points in the second half was huge for us.”

Harden had 20 points and 11 assists, while Ivica Zubac posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 17 points off the bench before injuring his left ankle with 90 seconds remaining.

Porter won’t play on Sunday, and Norman Powell (left hamstring strain), who has been averaging a team-high 23.3 points per game, is listed as questionable. Powell has not played since Nov. 18.

While Lue praised the Clippers’ defensive efforts, Nuggets coach Michael Malone had concerns about his team, even after a comfortable 122-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

Nikola Jokic was excellent, scoring 30 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists. He is having a career year, averaging 29.7 points per game, 10.6 assists, and 53.4% shooting from 3-point range. He is also grabbing 13.1 rebounds per game.

Jokic is on track to win his fourth MVP, joining an elite group of players. He most recently won the award at the end of last season.

However, despite Jokic’s outstanding play and the easy win, Malone believes the Nuggets’ defense is still not up to their usual standard.

“Our defense so far has just been really inconsistent,” Malone said. “It starts in transition. It flows into the paint, and it finishes with the rebounding. … We have to stop making those mistakes if we want to be a top-10 defense. We’re far from that right now.”

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Edwards turned a 90-87 deficit into a 93-90 lead by scoring a dunk, hitting the 3-pointer, and making a free throw.

Ivica Zubac scored a putback with 50.9 seconds left to bring the Clippers within one, but a messy defensive play in the final moments stopped the Clippers from winning.

Minnesota’s Mike Conley got a steal with 26.1 seconds remaining and helped the Timberwolves keep possession to run out the clock. Conley eventually got the ball back and took a quick 3-pointer when the shot clock was about to expire.

Conley missed, but Edwards grabbed the rebound. He also missed his shot, but teammate Rudy Gobert got another offensive rebound and ran out the clock.

Edwards finished with 21 points, Conley had 13 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who ended group play with a 2-2 record.

James Harden (20 points, 11 assists) and Zubac (16 points, 13 rebounds) each posted a double-double for the Clippers, who are 1-2 in West Group A with one game remaining. Kevin Porter Jr. added 17 points but hurt his ankle late in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers tied the score at 57 with Zubac’s hook shot at 9:38 of the third quarter. Julius Randle then answered with a jumper to start a 15-4 run for the Timberwolves.

From that point on, Los Angeles took control, finishing the third quarter with a 7-0 run to cut Minnesota’s lead to 72-68 going into the fourth.

After Porter hit a floater to score the first points of the second quarter, the Timberwolves went on a 14-2 run to take a 40-29 lead with 8:17 left in the first half.

Minnesota led 51-41 after Edwards made two free throws with 2:20 to go in the second, but the Clippers scored six of the last eight points of the half to close the gap to 53-47 at halftime.

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Brown scored 13 points, and Tatum added 12 as the Celtics tied an NBA record by hitting 12 three-pointers in the second quarter. Boston made 22 of 51 three-point attempts in the game, shooting 43.1%.

Kristaps Porzingis made his season debut for the Celtics after missing the first 17 games due to foot surgery. Porzingis played 23 minutes, scoring 16 points by making 6 of 12 field goal attempts. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.

Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 20 points, with 18 of those coming from three-pointers.

The game was the second stop on a four-game road trip for the Clippers, who allowed an opponent to score more than 100 points for the first time in their last five games.

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Clippers, making 11 of his 14 field goal attempts. Los Angeles also got 19 points from James Harden and 11 points from Derrick Jones Jr. Terance Mann and Jordan Miller each scored 10 off the bench.

The loss ended the Clippers’ five-game winning streak.

Derrick White (19 points), Brown (17 points), and Neemias Queta (12 points) also scored in double figures for Boston. Queta matched Tatum with a team-high nine rebounds.

The Celtics led 27-20 after the first quarter and 78-49 at halftime. Boston made 16 of its 34 three-point attempts in the first half, shooting 47.1%.

The Clippers started the third quarter with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 19 points, but the Celtics were ahead 99-78 heading into the final quarter.

Boston played without Luke Kornet (hamstring injury) and 38-year-old Al Horford, who sat out because it was the second night of a back-to-back.

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However, during his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, he quickly reminded his Boston Celtics teammates of what they’ve been missing.

Late in the second half, while the Clippers were on offense, Kris Dunn drove for a dunk attempt, but Porzingis, who is 7-foot-2, blocked the shot with two hands, sending the ball back to the floor.

A few moments later, Porzingis showed off his skills on the offensive end. He caught an alley-oop pass from teammate Jaylen Brown and dunked it, earning cheers from the crowd at TD Garden.

“It was a good beginning. Good first game back,” Porzingis said.

He finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 23 minutes, as the Celtics won 126-94.

This was Porzingis’ first game since he had surgery in June to repair a tear in the tissue that holds the tendons in his left ankle. This injury had limited him to just seven games during the Celtics’ playoff run last season.

Porzingis mentioned that he started feeling ready to play about a month ago.

“I was always asking the medical staff to do more,” Porzingis said. “But we were really smart and completed all of the stages to get to this point.”

His teammates made sure to get him involved right away, feeding him the ball on their first two possessions. Porzingis made a three-pointer from the wing on the Celtics’ first possession, and then made another three from the top of the key on their next trip down the floor.

He played nearly seven minutes in the first quarter before being replaced by Neemias Queta at the 5:12 mark.

The Celtics are 15-3 this season, but they have missed his presence inside, as teams have often outscored them in the paint.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged that Porzingis’ offensive game, especially when he operates from the high and low post, will require some adjustment for the team, as they’ve been playing without him so far this season. But Mazzulla was most pleased with Porzingis’ defensive impact, where he helped the team with his shot-blocking ability.

“We had 11 blocks tonight. It helps,” Mazzulla said.

When Porzingis first had his surgery, the expected recovery time was five to six months. However, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said before the season that they didn’t want to stick to a strict timeline because the injury was unique.

“We got here maybe a month early,” Porzingis said. “Honestly, I felt better than I expected.”

Porzingis had hurt his ankle in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks and missed the next two games. He returned for Game 5, scoring five points and grabbing one rebound in 16 minutes to help the Celtics clinch their 18th title with a 106-88 win over Dallas.

“To have big fella back, it makes us complete,” said Celtics teammate Payton Pritchard.

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The game was the first of a four-game road trip for the Clippers. They shot 58 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range, and they controlled the rebounds 44-33, even without their top scorer Norman Powell (hamstring) and star player Kawhi Leonard (knee).

Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18 points, and Terance Mann added 13 points off the bench for the Clippers.

For Philadelphia, Jared McCain scored 18 points but struggled, shooting just 3-of-15 from the field. The 76ers continued to play without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee). Tyrese Maxey contributed 17 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 12.

The Clippers shot 60 percent in the first quarter, with Harden and Amir Coffey each hitting two 3-pointers. Los Angeles jumped out to a 17-5 lead in less than five minutes, eventually finishing the first quarter ahead 39-27.

In the second quarter, the Clippers maintained a lead of at least 11 points and went into halftime up 62-50.

Los Angeles started the third quarter with a 9-1 run, including five quick points from Jones, to push their lead to 20. Maxey’s 3-pointer brought Philadelphia to within 73-56, but the Clippers responded with 13 of the next 15 points to extend their lead to 86-58.

A layup by Kris Dunn with about four minutes left in the third gave the Clippers a lead of more than 30 points for the first time. Kevin Porter Jr.’s basket a minute later made it 95-62, the Clippers’ largest lead of the game.

The 76ers made a brief 10-2 run to end the third quarter, capped by McCain’s 3-pointer, but they still trailed by 25 points going into the final quarter.

Philadelphia never posed a serious threat in the fourth quarter and dropped to a 3-13 record for the season.

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Both teams come into the game with five-game winning streaks, and the winner will have the longest current streak in the league.

This will be the second game in as many days for both teams.

Boston extended its streak with a 107-105 win over Minnesota on Sunday. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, helping them improve their home record to 6-2.

“I haven’t shot the ball to start off the season as well as I would have liked,” Brown said. “I feel like I’m due for a lot of makes. I feel like my shots were good. I feel like I’m a great shooter, but also feel like I’m great at other things as well — getting to the basket, getting to the paint, drawing opportunities for my guys. So it’s just a balance. It’s a long season and I’m just focused on trying to rack up wins.”

Brown finished 10 of 18 from the field, including 7 of 10 from three-point range. He scored the first 15 points of the game for Boston on five 3-pointers.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also praised Brown’s defense, especially his effort against Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards on the final possession of the game.

“Yeah, it’s great to have a player of his caliber take defense to another level and take matchups,” Mazzulla said. “When your best players are some of your best defenders, it can kind of set the tone for your team in the locker room defensively. So, he takes pride in individual matchups, and he did a great job defensively.”

The Clippers extended their streak with a 125-99 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. James Harden contributed 23 points and eight assists, and Ivica Zubac added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“We run plays for him just to try and get him touches and establish Zu on the low block,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Zubac. “When he’s the anchor of your defense you gotta keep him happy. Having him block shots, having him blitzing pick and rolls, having him be the anchor and talking on the back side, you have to reward him with some touches, and so we’ve been able to do that.”

The Clippers have held their last four opponents—Golden State, Orlando, Sacramento, and Philadelphia—under 100 points. They are 6-0 this season when their opponent scores fewer than 100 points.

“You know right now we’re just working hard, playing together, trying to do the right things on the floor and right now it’s paying off,” Kris Dunn said.

Norman Powell missed his third straight game on Sunday with a sore hamstring. Powell is the Clippers’ leading scorer with 23.3 points per game.

Boston center Luke Kornet sat out Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury. Al Horford played against Minnesota, but he is expected to rest for Monday’s game, as he usually sits out when the Celtics play on consecutive days.

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