James Harden and Kawhi Leonard both scored 25 points to lead the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to a 121-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, their fifth victory in six games.
Harden shot 8-for-14 from the floor, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range, while adding eight rebounds and seven assists. Leonard, who sat out the Clippers’ Wednesday game due to load management, hit 11 of 21 from the field and contributed six rebounds and five steals.
The Clippers swept the two-game season series. The Hawks had their four-game winning steak end while completing a 4-2 homestand.
Atlanta was led by Onyeka Okongwu, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. Trae Young had 17 points and seven assists, but committed seven turnovers.
Los Angeles’ Ivica Zubac scored 18 points but saw his streak of consecutive double-doubles end at 10 games.
The game was tied 46-46 with 4:31 left in the first half before Atlanta went on a late 15-4 run to take an 11-point lead. The Hawks were up 61-53 at halftime after Los Angeles’ Nicolas Batum sank a last-second 3-pointer.
The Clippers took control in the third quarter. They scored the first 11 points of the period to take a three-point lead on a Leonard 3-pointer. Los Angeles later had a 19-0 run to highlight a 35-8 quarter and take an 88-69 lead into the fourth quarter. Harden sparked the effort with 13 points.
The eight-point quarter was the lowest by the Hawks this season. Atlanta scored five points in the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 14, 2013, a night when they lost 97-58.
The Hawks were playing without Clint Capela for the second straight game because of personal reasons. The Clippers were without Norman Powell (right hamstring strain) and Jordan Miller (left hip soreness).
Clippers guard Ben Simmons was not originally on the three-game trip, but he was summoned to Atlanta and played 17 minutes and contributed two points and four assists. He had missed seven games with a left knee injury.
Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue returned to the bench after missing three games with back issues.
