Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points to lead the LA Clippers over Minnesota, while the New York Knicks cruised past Boston for their ninth win in 10 games.
WASHINGTON: Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-96 NBA road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The two-time NBA champion also grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals, matching the second-best road scoring effort of his career. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said.
He set an early defensive tone with three consecutive steals to start the game. Leonard delivered 24 points in the first half as the Clippers closed the second quarter with a 20-6 run for a 54-42 halftime lead.
The win improved the Clippers’ record to 25-27. Anthony Edwards led the struggling Timberwolves with 23 points in their second-lowest scoring game of the season.
In other action, Jalen Brunson sparked the New York Knicks to a 111-89 win over the Boston Celtics. Brunson produced game highs of 31 points and eight assists for his ninth win in 10 games.
The Knicks ended the third quarter with a decisive 15-3 run for an 85-68 lead. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 26 points as the Celtics settled for a season low in scoring.
Elsewhere, the Miami Heat triumphed 132-101 at Washington behind 22 points from Bam Adebayo. The Toronto Raptors defeated visiting Indiana 122-104, led by Scottie Barnes’ 25 points and 14 rebounds.
