Deadspin | Kawhi Leonard, Clippers ship Kings to eleventh straight defeat – Imperial Wire

Kawhi Leonard produced a game-high 31 factors, Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. contributed and-ones to a fourth-quarter pull-away and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers handed the Sacramento Kings their eleventh straight defeat, 114-111 on Friday.

Enjoying short-handed within the aftermath of trades this week that noticed them export James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers trailed 84-81 early within the fourth quarter earlier than outfinishing the Kings for an eleventh win of their previous 15 video games.

Leonard put the rally in movement with a protracted 2-pointer, after which Brook Lopez gave the Clippers the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 9:50 remaining.

Dunn’s huge contribution got here on an 11-foot floater on which he was fouled, organising a three-point play, and two minutes in a while a 3-pointer that elevated the guests’ result in 96-89 with 6:52 left.

Jones then drilled a 24-footer as he was being fouled. He additionally hit the free throw for a four-point play and a 99-91 margin with 8:36 to go, and the Kings by no means recovered.

Leonard went 12-for-12 on the free-throw line en path to his thirteenth 30-point efficiency of the season. He additionally discovered time for 9 rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

John Collins added 22 factors for the Clippers, whereas Lopez and Dunn completed with 15 factors apiece and Jones had 13. Lopez tied Leonard for team-high rebound honors with 9 and likewise blocked three pictures.

The Kings held out star middle Domantas Sabonis due to a sore again however nonetheless received loads of manufacturing from substitute huge man Maxime Raynaud, who had 12 factors and 5 rebounds, and his backup, Dylan Cardwell, who snatched a game-high 14 rebounds to go together with 14 factors.

Malik Monk got here off the bench to tempo the Kings with 18 factors, all on 3-pointers, whereas Nique Clifford had 16 and Devin Carter 14.

Sacramento veteran starters De’Andre Hunter, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine mixed to shoot simply 6-for-25 general and 0-for-12 on 3-point makes an attempt, the latter contributing to 27.0% crew accuracy from past the arc. Not one of the 4 scored greater than six factors.

–Area Degree Media