Kawhi Leonard returns, but struggling Clippers lose to Cavaliers
-
Click here to listen to this article - Share via
- Kawhi Leonard returned from a 10-game ankle injury, but the Clippers fell 120-105 to the Cavaliers in Sunday’s game.
- Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points with eight rebounds, orchestrating a critical fourth-quarter run that extended Cleveland’s lead to 18.
- Chris Paul, who reportedly will retire after the season, received an ovation from Cleveland’s crowd.
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points and took over when the game got close, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 120-105 victory over the Clippers on Sunday night.
Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points in his return to the Clippers’ lineup after missing 10 games because of a sprained right ankle. L.A. went 2-8 while Leonard was out.
Mitchell helped the Cavaliers pull away with a flurry of plays late in the third quarter. He finished with five three-pointers, eight rebounds and six assists.
After a stellar college career, he played 12 years in the NBA, including with the Clippers. He died of natural causes from a spinal cord injury he suffered in 2008.
Evan Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter scored 17 points as Cleveland went 4-2 on a six-game homestand.
Ivica Zubac paced the Clippers with 33 points — two off his career high — and 18 rebounds.
James Harden, who had a franchise-record 55 points for the Clippers in a win at Charlotte on Saturday, missed all eight three-point shots and finished with 19 points.
The Clippers trimmed a 13-point deficit to one in the third when Mitchell went to work.
The six-time All-Star had consecutive three-point plays, dropped a three-pointer and had two assists in the final 3:06 as the Cavaliers closed the quarter with a 15-3 run to open a 92-79 lead.
Mitchell then made another three-pointer and had two more assists in the opening minutes of the fourth as the Cavaliers pushed their lead to 18.
The Cavaliers were without key players as starting center Jarrett Allen (finger) and guards Lonzo Ball (knee), Sam Merrill (hand) and Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring) sat because of injuries.
Cleveland has played 10 different starting lineups while combating injuries.
Clippers guard Chris Paul picked up five assists in 17 minutes. Paul reportedly will retire after the season, and the 12-time All-Star received a warm ovation from Cleveland’s crowd when he checked in.
