Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points and Terance Mann added a season-high 23 to go along with 12 rebounds as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers earned a 101-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Leonard made 10 of 18 shots from the floor and added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals to offset six turnovers.
Mann, who was limited to single-digit scoring totals in each of his previous seven games, joined Paul George (14 points) in draining four 3-pointers apiece for the Clippers.
Russell Westbrook scored 13 points off the bench and Ivica Zubac contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Los Angeles’ Norman Powell, who has a sprained right ankle, missed a game for the first time this season.
Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 29 points to go along with five assists and four steals during his return from a one-game absence caused by soreness in his right quadriceps tendon. GG Jackson added 11 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who saw their modest two-game winning streak come to a halt in their first game after the All-Star break.
Los Angeles atoned for being outscored 68-48 in the second half of its 129-107 setback to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday with a strong effort on Friday. The Clippers erased a six-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Grizzlies 26-16 in the third quarter and 22-20 in the fourth.
George drained his fourth 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a 92-91 lead with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. A driving layup by Jaren Jackson Jr. briefly regained the lead for Memphis, but his turnover led to Leonard’s dunk that put the Clippers back in front with 1:35 to go.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a shot blocked and Mann subsequently dunked for a three-point lead with 1:11 to go.
Two free throws by Jaren Jackson Jr. trimmed the Grizzlies’ deficit to 96-95 with 1:07 left. Los Angeles’ James Harden sank a 3-pointer with 46.2 seconds remaining, and Leonard sealed the win at the foul line.
In the first half, Memphis benefited from 10 offensive rebounds and nine steals as well as 12 turnovers by Los Angeles to seize a 59-53 lead entering the break. Jaren Jackson Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 15 first-half points on 6-for-13 shooting from the floor, while Mann made 5 of 7 attempts from the floor to score 13 points for the Clippers.
–Field Level Media
