Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points and Paul George had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a sluggish start to earn a 99-88 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves and increase their winning streak to three games.
Luke Kennard scored 16 points and Nicolas Batum had 13 as the Clippers won two days after their best victory of the season when they overcame the NBA-best Boston Celtics 113-93 at home.
Anthony Edwards scored 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 11 points with 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who dropped their third consecutive game to match a season high.
Kyle Anderson and Jaylen Nowell each scored 13 points for Minnesota, which is 1-3 on a five-game road trip that concludes Friday at Oklahoma City. The Wolves not only were without Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) as expected, D’Angelo Russell was out because of a left knee contusion.
Both teams slogged their way through a defensive first half, with the Wolves leading 43-38 at halftime. The 81 first-half points were the lowest of any NBA game this season.
Minnesota shot just 38.9 percent from the field in the first half, while the Clippers were even worse at 26.5 percent. The teams also were a combined 7 of 38 (18.4 percent) from 3-point range before halftime.
The Clippers found their offense in a 29-point third quarter (11 of 22 from the field) that gave them a 67-65 lead heading into the fourth period.
Los Angeles broke a 71-all tie on a Leonard jumper with 9:13 remaining and never trailed again, taking charge with an 13-2 run that included a pair of Kennard 3-pointers.
Marcus Morris Sr. had 12 points and Reggie Jackson added 10 for the Clippers, who were without Norman Powell (groin) for the eighth consecutive game and did not have John Wall (knee). Los Angeles big man Ivica Zubac did not play in the second half because of knee discomfort.
–Field Level Media
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