Harden, Leonard and George lead Clippers to 151-127 rout of Pacers for eighth straight win
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did most of the Los Angeles Clippers' heavy lifting.
Then, with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, James Harden took over.
Harden scored 21 of his season-best 35 points in the fourth, and the Clippers got 28 points from Leonard and 27 from George to rout Indiana 151-127 on Monday night for their league-best eighth consecutive victory.
“It was fun to watch,” Leonard said when asked about Harden's late flurry.
The Clippers have been playing must-see basketball lately, winning five of their last six by double digits. They're on the franchise's longest winning streak since 2015-16 when they won 10 straight, and on Monday, they posted the fourth-highest scoring total in franchise history, and the highest this season.
Los Angeles put on its latest show against the NBA's second-worst scoring defense. Meanwhile, the Pacers' usually turbo-charged offense appeared to be a step slow after returning from a 12-day trip that took them through time zones.
Bennedict Mathurin had a season-high 34 points to lead Indiana. Isaiah Jackson scored 15 points while starting in place of injured two-time NBA blocks champion Myles Turner.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton had an off night after missing Saturday’s game with a bruised knee. He had eight points, 11 assists and four turnovers.
But it was the inability to defend, again, that riled up Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
“We've got a huge target on our back because of wining some games in the tournament, so the Pacers aren't sneaking up on anyone,” Carlisle said. “But our mindset, if it's shifted to just simply trying to outscore teams and away from any kind of emphasis defensively, that's got to stop and if it means massive lineup changes, that's what will happen.”
George again tormented his former team and the fans who routinely boo him each time he’s come back since forcing Indiana to trade him in the summer of 2017. He is averaging 36 points in his last five games at Indiana.
Initially, the Pacers looked fine as they built 51-46 lead midway through the second quarter.
But it didn’t last. Los Angeles seized control with a 21-6 spurt to take a 67-57 lead, led 77-66 at the half and pulled ahead 114-94 after three. Indiana never recovered.
Harden made sure of it by going 12 of 16 from the field and 8 of 11 on 3-pointers with nine assists in his most efficient performance since being acquired from Philadelphia in October.
“We're not trying to play the score,” Leonard said. “We're trying to win the quarters. And even if we have 20 points, we've still got to do our jobs and be efficient.”
The Pacers held a pregame tribute for two-time ABA champion George McGinnis, who died Thursday, with a highlight reel and a moment of silence.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Hope to extend their streak Wednesday night at Dallas.
Pacers: Host Charlotte on Wednesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ivica Zubac vs. Isaiah Jackson (Paul George gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Kawhi Leonard offensive foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | |||
11:44 | Kawhi Leonard turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:33 | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:26 | +2 | Paul George makes two point fadeaway jump shot (James Harden assists) | 2-0 | |
11:15 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-2 | |
10:55 | Paul George misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:51 | Bruce Brown defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-4 | |
10:26 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
10:22 | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point jump shot | |||
10:02 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Bruce Brown personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
9:51 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point cutting layup (James Harden assists) | 4-4 | |
9:38 | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | Isaiah Jackson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:38 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Isaiah Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:36 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
9:27 | Buddy Hield blocks James Harden's two point driving layup | |||
9:27 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
9:17 | +2 | James Harden makes two point pullup jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 6-4 | |
9:09 | Tyrese Haliburton misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
9:06 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
8:55 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 8-4 | |
8:37 | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 8-7 | |
8:21 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 10-7 | |
8:10 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point cutting dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 10-9 | |
7:59 | Paul George misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
7:55 | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | |||
7:47 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point driving reverse layup (Bruce Brown assists) | 10-11 | |
7:28 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point hook shot (Paul George assists) | 12-11 | |
7:17 | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
7:12 | +2 | Paul George makes two point running finger roll layup | 14-11 | |
7:12 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
6:57 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point driving floating jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 14-13 | |
6:57 | Kawhi Leonard shooting foul (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | |||
6:57 | +1 | Bruce Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-14 | |
6:46 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Paul George assists) | 16-14 | |
6:33 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point dunk (Bruce Brown assists) | 16-16 | |
6:22 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 19-16 | |
6:10 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 19-18 | |
5:56 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point cutting layup (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 21-18 | |
5:34 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point reverse layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 21-20 | |
5:34 | Russell Westbrook shooting foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul) | |||
5:34 | +1 | Isaiah Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-21 | |
5:17 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 23-21 | |
5:07 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 23-23 | |
4:59 | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
4:59 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:59 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:57 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
4:51 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point cutting dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) | 25-23 | |
4:38 | Bruce Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
4:35 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
4:23 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-23 | |
4:13 | Isaiah Jackson misses two point floating jump shot | |||
4:09 | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | |||
4:08 | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | |||
4:04 | Bruce Brown offensive rebound | |||
3:50 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point driving reverse layup | 27-25 | |
3:35 | +3 | Paul George makes three point stepback jump shot | 30-25 | |
3:23 | Bruce Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
3:21 | Bennedict Mathurin offensive rebound | |||
3:21 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point tip layup | 30-27 | |
3:21 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
3:08 | Aaron Nesmith blocks Paul George's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
3:05 | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | Bruce Brown offensive foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
3:03 | Bruce Brown turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:55 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
2:50 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
2:32 | Paul George blocks Bennedict Mathurin's two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:29 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
2:25 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point running finger roll layup | 32-27 | |
2:16 | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | |||
2:05 | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (T.J. McConnell steals) | |||
2:00 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point running pullup jump shot | 32-29 | |
1:44 | +3 | Paul George makes three point stepback jump shot | 35-29 | |
1:29 | T.J. McConnell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:28 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
1:20 | Paul George misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:17 | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | |||
1:07 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point driving dunk (Buddy Hield assists) | 35-31 | |
0:49 | Obi Toppin personal foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
0:43 | Paul George turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Nesmith steals) | |||
0:39 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point running dunk (T.J. McConnell assists) | 35-33 | |
0:33 | T.J. McConnell personal foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
0:33 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-33 | |
0:33 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-33 | |
0:13 | Daniel Theis shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
0:13 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-34 | |
0:13 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-35 | |
0:04 | Daniel Theis offensive foul (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | |||
0:04 | Daniel Theis turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:01 | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point fadeaway jump shot (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 37-38 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 37-41 | |
11:21 | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:18 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Daniel Theis misses two point tip layup | |||
11:17 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
11:11 | James Harden offensive foul (Charge) (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | |||
11:11 | James Harden turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:03 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving reverse layup | 37-43 | |
10:51 | T.J. McConnell personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
10:44 | Obi Toppin blocks Norman Powell's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
10:39 | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | |||
10:37 | Buddy Hield misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:34 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 40-43 | |
10:09 | Amir Coffey shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
10:09 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-44 | |
10:09 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-45 | |
10:02 | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
10:02 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-45 | |
10:02 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-45 | |
9:52 | T.J. McConnell misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:48 | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving finger roll layup | 44-45 | |
9:18 | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Obi Toppin assists) | 44-47 | |
8:57 | Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:52 | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | |||
8:44 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 44-49 | |
8:31 | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:28 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
8:27 | Obi Toppin blocks Daniel Theis's two point putback layup | |||
8:24 | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Terance Mann blocks Bennedict Mathurin's two point driving layup | |||
8:04 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
7:58 | Buddy Hield personal foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
7:46 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point hook shot (James Harden assists) | 46-49 | |
7:33 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point cutting layup (Buddy Hield assists) | 46-51 | |
7:12 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 48-51 | |
6:55 | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:52 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
6:46 | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
6:46 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
6:46 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-51 | |
6:46 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-51 | |
6:32 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point cutting dunk (Isaiah Jackson assists) | 50-53 | |
6:17 | Tyrese Haliburton shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
6:17 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 51-53 | |
6:17 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 52-53 | |
6:17 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 53-53 | |
6:12 | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:03 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot | 55-53 | |
5:45 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 55-55 | |
5:27 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Paul George assists) | 57-55 | |
5:09 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving finger roll layup (Bruce Brown assists) | 57-57 | |
4:47 | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot | 60-57 | |
4:36 | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:34 | Clippers defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point layup | 62-57 | |
4:20 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
4:05 | Bruce Brown misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
4:02 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
3:58 | +2 | James Harden makes two point running layup | 64-57 | |
3:45 | Ivica Zubac blocks Isaiah Jackson's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
3:41 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 67-57 | |
3:17 | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 67-60 | |
2:57 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:53 | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | |||
2:50 | Obi Toppin misses three point running jump shot | |||
2:47 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
2:36 | +3 | Paul George makes three point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 70-60 | |
2:18 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating jump shot (Isaiah Jackson assists) | 70-62 | |
1:59 | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
1:59 | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 71-62 | |
1:59 |