By Mykell Mathieu
LOS ANGELES — A 16-0 fourth quarter run helped the Clippers end their two-game losing streak by defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 113-104.
James Harden led the team in scoring finishing the game with 29 points. 20 of those points came in the first half.
Paul George added 25 points and Ivica Zubac added another double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Clippers won their first game without star forward Kawhi Leonard on the floor this season.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game but it was a good bounce-back win for us,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “Defensively we were pretty good.”
This win came after Los Angeles was destroyed by the Boston Celtics in their 37-point defeat a few days ago.
Russell Westbrook, who finished the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four assist off the bench made some huge plays in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers go on their winning run.
Charlotte took a six-point lead with 8:19 to play in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t score again for the next four-plus minutes. By the time Nick Richards made free throws with 3:52 to play to end Charlotte’s scoreless streak, the Clippers led by eight after a layup and three-pointer by Westbrook, followed by a Westbrook assist leading to a dunk by Zubac.
Westbrook has become a crowd favorite with his energy and play and last night coach Lue really noticed.
“The crowd loves him as soon as he checks in the game,” Lue said. “He brings the same intensity every game… the way he played tonight with that effort and that speed. We needed every bit of it.”
Leonard, who missed his third-straight game is considered “day-by-day” with his hip injury but is making some progress.
The Clippers now move on to a big matchup Friday night at home against a hot Memphis Grizzles team who hasn’t lost since the return of superstar Ja Morant.
