Balanced Clippers top Raptors for 7th win in 9 games
By IAN HARRISON The Associated Press
TORONTO — On the second night of a back-to-back set, despite arriving in Canada in the wee hours the night before, the Clippers put together one of their best performances of the season.
Paul George scored 23 points, Ivica Zubac had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and the Clippers won for the seventh time in nine games by beating the Toronto Raptors, 124-113, on Tuesday night.
Norman Powell scored 22 points off the bench and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as the two members of Toronto’s 2019 championship team returned to Canada for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leonard hadn’t played in Toronto since Dec. 11, 2019, when he received his championship ring. Fans cheered when he was introduced before tipoff.
“It’s always great memories coming in this arena,” said Leonard, who sat out Monday’s win at Detroit. “I’d rather give the fans in Toronto the chance to see me play again. That was part of my decision.”
Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and Marcus Morris Sr. added 10 as all five Clippers starters scored in double digits.
“This was one of our most complete games of the season,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said.
George made 9 of 18 shot attempts, Jackson went 9 for 15 and Zubac was 7 for 13.
“He’s been amazing for us all year,” Lue said of Zubac. “He was a monster on the glass, 10 offensive rebounds.”
While the Raptors hadn’t played since Dec. 23, the Clippers were on the second night of a back-to-back and didn’t reach their Toronto hotel until after 3 a.m., arriving after rallying for an improbable overtime victory over the Pistons. Still, the difference in rest didn’t hurt the Clippers.
“It just shows the level that we can play at no matter what’s against us when all the guys are locked in, focused and playing for one another,” Powell said.
Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, topping 25 for the career-high fifth straight game, and Scottie Barnes had 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Raptors’ home losing streak reached four.
One game after making a season-high 19 3-pointers in a road win at Cleveland, Toronto shot 6 for 23 from behind the arc against the Clippers, matching a season-low. Toronto went 1 for 9 from long range in the second half.
“I think the shots not going in are affecting our transition defense and it’s affecting our energy and fight a little bit,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points, O.G. Anunoby had 18 and Malachi Flynn 10. Each made two 3-pointers for the Raptors
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet left the court in the first quarter to stretch out his sore lower back, then checked out again early in the third. He finished with four points in 23 minutes and shot 2 for 6, going 0 for 3 from 3-point range.
The Clippers trailed 29-27 after one but Powell scored 11 points in the second, two of them on a driving dunk, and George added 10 as the Clippers led 60-56 at the break.
Neither team led by more than six points in the first half but the Clippers extended their lead to 18 in the third behind 11 points from Powell. The Clippers took a 97-82 lead to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Point guard John Wall (left knee) sat out on the second night of a back-to-back. … Leonard returned after sitting out Monday’s comeback win at Detroit.
Raptors: Barnes finished with eight assists. … Siakam had nine rebounds. … The Raptors began a stretch that sees them play nine of 10 at home. … Coach Nick Nurse said forward Precious Achiuwa (sprained right ankle) is close to returning. Achiuwa missed his 22nd consecutive game Tuesday.
QUALITY QUARTET
The Clippers had a season-high four players score at least 20 points. It’s the first time they’ve done it since Mar. 19, 2021, against Milwaukee.
NORM!
Powell played north of the border for the first time since Feb. 28, 2020, Toronto’s final home game before COVID-19 shut down the season. Fans gave Powell a loud ovation after the Raptors honored him with a video tribute during a first-quarter timeout.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me to be where it all started,” Powell said.
Powell planned to leave town with his 2019 championship ring, which had been in Toronto throughout the pandemic.
UP NEXT
The Clippers play at Boston on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. PT.
Hear Ty Lue's thoughts on the win over the Raptors and Norm's tribute in Toronto@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/mI4rzifduW
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
"I was looking forward to this game, so I had all the energy I needed"
Norm speaks on playing in Toronto for the first time in front of fans and the Raptors' tribute video@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/alLG4hLwOu
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
Toronto gives a warm welcome to Norman Powell in his first game back at Scotiabank with fans@LAClippers | @npowell2404 | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/JmSLy1jLDa
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
RACK ATTACK@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/1qL8ABu8gA
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
ALLEY ZUUUUUUP!
23 & 15 tonight for @ivicazubac #ClipperNation | @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/zD0m7070uA
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
PG takes flight@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/rCAtp2ziwI
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022
Kawhi with a fake and a bucket@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/zRfw9hqdGY
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 28, 2022