LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points, Montrezl Harrell added 24, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat San Antonio, 103-97, on Thursday night, handing the Spurs their first loss.
Leonard – who sat out Wednesday’s game at Utah due to load management – also grabbed 12 rebounds for his first points-rebounds, double-double this season. It is also Leonard’s first double-double in three meetings against the Spurs, where he played seven seasons (2011-18).
Leonard also has scored 30 or more in three of his first five games with the Clippers, who he signed with as a free agent during the offseason.
The game was close for the first 28 minutes, before the Clippers took control with a 9-1 run to take a 64-55 lead with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter. Leonard – who had 25 points in the second half – scored five of his 10 third-quarter points during the rally, including a dunk after a steal of DeMar DeRozan at midcourt.
No Nunn-sense!
ATLANTA (AP) – Kendrick Nunn is enjoying the best start of any undrafted player in NBA history.
The rookie is taking the Miami Heat along for the ride.
Nunn scored a career-high 28 points to add to his record-setting start and Miami beat Atlanta, 106-97, on Thursday night, giving the Heat two wins over the Hawks in three days.
Nunn’s 112 points are the highest total through the first five games for any undrafted player in NBA history. Connie Hawkins of the Phoenix Suns scored 105 points in his first five games of the 1969-70 season.
“It’s surreal a little bit,” Nunn said. “… All I needed was the opportunity.”
“He can shoot it,” Hawks rookie Cam Reddish said. “I have a lot of respect for that guy.”
OKAFOR TOWS PELICANS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Jahlil Okafor scored 26 points, Brandon Ingram added 25, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Denver Nuggets, 122-107, on Thursday night for their first victory in five games this season.
Ingram has scored at least 22 points in each of his first five games for New Orleans after coming over from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jrue Holiday added 19 points and seven assists after missing the previous two games because of a sprained left knee. Frank Jackson had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
