Kawhi Leonard, Clippers hotter than the Suns

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points, Ivica Zubac had 14 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers continued their torrid run with a 117-93 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

John Collins scored 16 points and had nine rebounds and reserve Jordan Miller scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half for the Clippers.

Los Angeles guard James Harden missed the game for personal reasons. The Suns were without guards Devin Booker (ankle) and Jalen Green (hamstring, hip).

The Clippers are 17-4 since opening the season 6-21, the best current run in the league, and have not lost two games in a row since stopping a five-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 20

Grayson Allen scored 23 points, Dillon Brooks had 22 points and Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin had 12 points apiece for the Suns, who had a three-game winning streak broken.

The bigger, more physical Clippers had a 63-35 rebounding advantage and scored 64 points in the paint.

Leonard had eight rebounds and five assists. Miller made three 3-pointers.

The Clippers shot 51.8% from the field.

The Suns a season-low 33.3% from the field and made 19 of 46 3-pointers.

Allen, Brooks, Gillespie and Goodwin had four 3-pointers apiece, and Royce O’Neale made three.

The teams met for the final time in the regular season, splitting the four games.

Los Angeles asserted its inside strength early, scoring 18 points in the paint for a 24-20 lead. Zubac and Leonard had five rebounds apiece.

The Clippers bumped their lead to 35-22 with eight minutes left in the first half with a 15-2 run that began late in the first quarter. The Clippers led 49-43 at half, when Leonard had 14 points and Allen had 13.

Zubac’s layup gave the Clippers a 66-52 advantage midway through the third quarter that grew to 85-71 entering the fourth.

Miller made two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter for a 94-73 edge and the Suns were never closer than 14.

–Field Level Media