PHOENIX — All-Star or not, Kawhi Leonard has been the key to the Clippers’ turnaround.
Leonard, scored 25 points and the Clippers, playing without James Harden, routed the Phoenix Suns, 117-93, on Sunday night to continue their torrid run.
Leonard, who was left off the Western Conference All-Star reserves announced earlier Sunday, also had eight rebounds and five assists in his 27th consecutive game with 20 or more points. Ivica Zubac had 14 points and a season-high 20 rebounds as the Clippers bounced back from a loss at Denver on Friday and dominated the inside, outrebounding Phoenix 63-35 and outscoring the Suns 64-18 in the paint for their 17th win in the past 21 games.
Jordan Miller had 20 points (16 in the second half), John Collins had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Kobe Sanders added 12 points for the Clippers (23-25), who shot 51.8% from the field. Sanders started for Harden, who missed the game for personal reasons.
Grayson Allen had 23 points and eight assists, and Dillon Brooks scored 22 points for the Suns (30-20), who had won three straight before Sunday, and are still 15-7 since Dec. 21. Phoenix shot just 33.3% from the field (but 19 for 46 from 3-point range) and was held under 100 points for just the sixth time in 50 games this season. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin each finished with 12 points.
The Clippers asserted their inside strength early, scoring 18 points in the paint for a 24-20 lead. Zubac and Leonard had five rebounds apiece.
The Clippers extended their lead to 35-22 with eight minutes left in the first half with a 15-2 run that began late in the first quarter. The Clippers led 49-43 at half, when Leonard had 14 points and Allen had 13.
A Zubac layup gave the Clippers a 66-52 advantage midway through the third quarter that grew to 85-71 entering the fourth.
Miller made two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter for a 94-73 edge and the Suns were never closer than 14.
The Suns played without Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) and Jalen Green (right hamstring, left hip). Booker was selected as a reserve for his fifth All-Star Game earlier Sunday.
The teams split the season series 2-2.
UP NEXT
The Clippers host Philadelphia on Monday at 7 p.m.
