Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert, left, battles for the ball with Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers kneel during the national anthem before an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
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Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) go up for the opening tip of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (31) shoots over Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is defended by Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams, left, and Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward JaMychal Green (4) and guard Lou Williams (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Rodney McGruder (19) dribbles against Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (00) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Rodney McGruder (19) shoots against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers looks on against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (left) is knocked down by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets guard Chris Chiozza (4) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (00) dunks next to Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball past Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (00) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (00) dunks next to Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) dribbles the ball while defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard Landry Shamet (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The Clippers’ priorities entering their final seeding games in the bubble are clear, Coach Doc Rivers said, first comes rhythm and rest, and then comes winning.
The rhythm was chaotic to start Sunday, Kawhi Leonard didn’t get much rest throughout, and, in the end, Brooklyn won 129-120. The Nets fended off a shorthanded Clippers squad whose search for continuity continues in this latter chapter of an interrupted season.
In what was the sixth of eight seeding games for both teams Sunday, the Nets (34-36) built a big buffer early, bolting to a 45-24 lead at the end of the opening period, the second-highest scoring first quarter in their franchise’s history.
The Clippers (47-23) kept coming, though, shrinking a 21-point lead to 10 before heading into the half trailing, 74-63.
And then a motivated Leonard cleaned up the whole mess.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP single-handedly outscored the Nets 11-0 to start the third quarter and tied the game 74-74 in the process.
“We definitely got to be in a better rhythm,” Leonard said after the game, via Zoom. “Guys have been in and out of the lineup, key guys. Still waiting on Trezz (Montrezl Harrell) to get back, you know what I mean?”
Rivers said that though there was nothing he could report regarding Harrell’s plans to rejoin the team following the death of his grandmother, he offered, “We hope so. That’s all I can say.”
Without Harrell, as well as star forward Paul George (rest) and Patrick Beverley (sore calf), Leonard kept the Clippers in it, though they only ever pulled even and not in front.
After resting in Saturday’s substitute-fueled victory over Portland, Leonard played 37 minutes Sunday and finished with 39 points, six assists and four steals. He shot 14 of 25 (56.0%) from the field.
“Kawhi was fresh,” Rivers said. “I mean, he felt great.”
In his 1,000th career regular-season game, Lou Williams looked as spry as he has in any game in the bubble, coming off the bench for 18 points in 23 minutes. Marcus Morris Sr. continued his positive momentum from the two games prior with a 15-point effort on 6-of-9 shooting. And rookie guard Terance Mann scored a career-high 14 points in the loss.
Ivica Zubac, the Clippers’ 23-year-old 7-footer, continued his bubble flexing: In 24 minutes, he scored eight points and pulled down a career-high-tying 15 rebounds — the fourth consecutive game he grabbed at 10 rebounds or more, also a career milestone.
Despite those efforts, the Clippers took a step back.
And with the playoffs scheduled to tip off July 17 and their second seed precariously in the balance, that’s not ideal, Rivers said.
“Hopefully we won’t play up and down in the playoffs,” he said. “We definitely have been so far. We have one inspired game, then we don’t.
“Give Brooklyn credit,” he added. “They attacked us. They were clearly the team that had the right approach at the beginning of the game. When you spot someone 20 points, it’s hard to come back from that.”
In that bombastic opening half, the Nets’ and Joe Harris (23 points — a first-half career high) and Carris LeVert (21) combined to account for 44 points on 18 for 22 shooting. Brooklyn shot 67.4% (29 for 43) and 52.0% (13 for 25) from 3-point range.
Fortunately for the Clippers — who were on the back end of a back-to-back pair of contests — their offensive engine was revved too. Led by Leonard — who finished the first half with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting — they shot 53.3% (24 for 45) in the first 24 minutes.
The second half was a different story: Harris scored only two points after the break, and the Nets scored a more pedestrian 55 points and shot 42.9% (18 for 42). The Clippers posted 57 second-half points and shot 43.8% (21 for 48). Still, by eclipsing 120 points for the 31st time this season, they equaled a franchise best.
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