Los Angeles- The Los Angeles Clippers(19-12) defeated the surging Memphis Grizzles(10-21) 117-106 to help them improve to 11-2 in the month of December.
The Clippers were without their star forward Kawhi Leonard for the fourth consecutive game.
Leonard has been sidelined due to a hip contusion he suffered early this month against the Dallas Mavericks and is awaiting clearance by the medical staff according to Head Coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers are now 2-2 without Kawhi Leonard this season after handing the Grizzlies their first loss of the season with Ja Morant.
Without Leonard in the lineup, the Clippers had seven players in double figures. James Harden recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 assists.
Ivica Zubac recorded a season-high 20 rebounds and added 15 points, securing his fifth double-double in the last seven games.
Harden spoke about his role with Kawhi Leonard being out. “Tonight and over the last couple games, when someone like Kawhi is out you need me to score and play make a little bit more. We are learning each other more game by game.
Paul George struggled in the first half recording only four points on one for nine shooting from the field but the Clippers made it a point of emphasis to get him going in the third period, where George scored 12 points making five of eight attempts.
Paul George finished the game as the Clippers’ leading scorer with 23 points, going 8 of 21 from the field.
Jaren Jackson and Marcus Smart led the Grizzlies in scoring both adding 22 points. Ja Morant chipped in 19 points while also dishing out 10 assists.
The Clippers were in control most of the game and saw their lead stretch to as large as 21 points early in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles now prepares for a challenging January schedule where the Clippers will play nine of their 15 games on the road. They will face their inner-city rivals the Los Angeles Lakers twice, the Phoneix Suns twice, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tyronn spoke about their upcoming schedule as he relished bouncing back after their two-game skid. “To close the month out with two wins was really good. Knowing we got a tough month ahead of us in January, a lot of good teams, a lot of travel”.
The Clippers hope to get Kawhi Leonard back as they prepare for the month ahead of them., Kawhi has begun working out individually but has yet to be clear to return to five-on-five activities.
