Clippers Notes: Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George

The Los Angeles Clippers overcame an 18-point deficit and beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, closing the game on a 22-0 run.

Final score: Clippers 125, Nets 114. Somehow, someway.

“They came out and punched us in the mouth and in that fourth quarter we played Clipper basketball, got some stops and the rest is history,” said guard James Harden, who finished with 24 points and 10 assists.

Los Angeles was outscored 16-0 to start the game and was forced to play catch-up for the next three quarters. Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 14 of his 21 points in the game’s final five minutes.

• “He finally caught his rhythm,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He’d been under the weather and wasn’t able to practice yesterday and we didn’t know if he was going to be able to go today.”
• Added forward Paul George: “That was first of a kind, with a slow start and then get red-hot at the end. We’re going to always compete to the very end. Great thing about this group is we don’t ever believe that we’re down and out of it.”
• By the way, guard Russell Westbrook added an important 23 points off the bench.
• The Clippers (27-14) had five days off before Sunday’s game. They’ve won eight of 10 and next play host to the Lakers on Tuesday night. 

CLIPPERS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/uTjxlnkXHi

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 21, 2024