INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points \u2014 his career-high 23rd consecutive game with at least 20 \u2014 and the Los Angeles Clippers survived a tight fourth quarter to beat Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The Clippers have won seven of eight and 14 of 17 as they continue their upward climb from the depths of the Western Conference. Leonard, who missed a stretch when his team had nearly bottomed out in the standings, has a left knee contusion but he didn\u2019t sit for long in the fourth.<\/p>\n
LeBron James scored 4 points and Doncic hit a 3-pointer to cap a 19-7 run that closed the Lakers within two. <\/p>\n
James Harden answered Doncic\u2019s 3 with one of his own as the Clippers ran off 10 in a row to stay in front, 103-91. <\/p>\n
But the Lakers weren\u2019t done yet. James hit a jumper and completed a three-point play in an 11-2 run that drew them within three.<\/p>\n
Ivica Zubac\u2019s reverse dunk and John Collins\u2019 3-pointer extended the Clippers\u2019 lead to eight points and they closed it out on Harden\u2019s pair of free throws.<\/p>\n
Luka Doncic had 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and James added 23 points. The Lakers fell to 5-6 in their last 11.<\/p>\n
Harden had 18 points and 10 assists and Zubac added 18 points and 19 rebounds for the Clippers, who had seven players in double figures.<\/p>\n
Leonard, Harden and Zubac combined to score the Clippers\u2019 first 15 points of the third, extending their lead to 26 points \u2014 largest of the game. <\/p>\n
From there, the Lakers outscored them 19-7 to go into the fourth trailing 86-72. James opened the spurt with a 3-pointer and ended it with a huge dunk off Harden\u2019s turnover after Doncic chipped in 9 points in the quarter.<\/p>\n
The Clippers dominated the first half, outscoring the Lakers 17-7 \u2014 including nine in a row \u2014 over the final minutes to go into halftime leading 64-47.<\/p>\n
Doncic scored just three of his 17 first-half points in the second quarter when Leonard led the bench against Doncic and James. The Clippers shot 59% from the floor while limiting the Lakers to 42%. <\/p>\n
The Lakers were still without Austin Reaves (calf strain), although coach JJ Redick expects him back soon.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Lakers: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday to open a six-game trip against Doncic\u2019s old team.<\/p>\n
Clippers: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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