EditorsNote: tweaks headline; clarifies Clippers lead in 5th graf; minor edits throughout
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Landry Shamet and Montrezl Harrell added 19 points each as the Los Angeles Clippers used a third-quarter charge to notch a 112-97 road victory Sunday over the Orlando Magic.
Lou Williams scored 15 points as the Clippers improved to 4-1 on their season-long six game road trip. Leonard extended his career-long streak of 30-point games to eight.
Michael Carter-Williams scored 15 points and Nikola Vucevic 13 as the Magic lost their third consecutive game and fell for the fifth time in their past six games. Orlando lost twice to the Clippers in that stretch, falling 122-95 at Los Angeles on Dec. 16.
The game started with multiple tributes to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash Sunday just outside of Los Angeles. The teams acknowledged the Nos. 24 and 8 Bryant wore during his career, with the Clippers taking a 24-second violation to open the game, followed by an eight-second backcourt violation by the Magic.
Leonard scored 15 points in the third quarter as the Clippers started to distance themselves from a tight first half. Los Angeles led 54-52 at the break after trailing by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, then surged to a 67-56 lead with 8:43 left in the third.
The Magic cut the deficit to 90-83 with 8:31 remaining on a layup by Carter-Williams but got no closer.
Aaron Gordon had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando, while Wes Iwundu scored 12 points, Evan Fournier 11 and Mo Bamba 10.
Patrick Patterson scored 10 points and Ivica Zubac had 11 rebounds for the Clippers. All eight of Leonard's recent 30-point games have come with Paul George out due to a hamstring injury. George missed his ninth consecutive game Sunday.
The final game of the Clippers' lengthy trip won't be much of a road game. They will be the visiting team Tuesday against the Lakers at the Staples Center, which is home for both teams.
--Field Leven Media
