Irving scores 39, Nets cool off Clippers with 124-120 win
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK โ Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 39 points, including eight straight in the fourth-quarter run that sent Brooklyn into the lead for good, and the Nets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-120 on Tuesday night. The Nets held on from there to snap the Clippers' three-game winning streak. Looking good defensively promised to be difficult against a Clippers team that came in leading the NBA in 3-point percentage. Irving scored 14 points in the third quarter, before George's jumper with 1.1 seconds left sent the Clippers into the final period with a 90-88 edge.
More NBA games off, as league continues struggles with virus
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Another three NBA games were postponed Friday, including one in Minnesota only a couple hours before game time, as the league's struggle with increasing coronavirus numbers continued. The Timberwolves' game with the Memphis Grizzlies was called off, as were what would have been Wizards' home games Sunday and Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA said earlier this week that 16 players tested positive in recent days, which was more than the NBA had seen in the last five weeks combined. The NBA gave Orlando coach Steve Clifford a call recently, telling him he had to do a better job of keeping his mask on during games. โI think there were seven of us who got a call from the league about โKeep your mask on,โโ Clifford said.
Kawhi Leonard out for Clippers against Mavericks
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is helped off the court after suffering an injury during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)LOS ANGELES โ Kawhi Leonard wonโt play for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Leonard was bleeding heavily when he left the court in the fourth quarter. Leonard was replaced in Sundayโs lineup by Luke Kennard for the Clippers' home opener at Staples Center. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Leonard leaves bloodied, but Clippers beat Nuggets 121-108
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is helped off the court after suffering an injury during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER โ Kawhi Leonard had 21 points before taking an elbow to the face in the fourth quarter, Paul George scored 23 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 121-108 on Friday night. The Nuggets used an 11-0 run into early in the fourth, and two 3-pointers by Murray sliced a 98-74 deficit to 106-95 with 7:35 left. โThey made a run, we lost Kawhi so we could have lost our composure, lost our game, but we took a good timeout,โ Nicolas Batum said. Green, who played for the Clippers last season, has yet to play in the regular season after signing with Denver in the short offseason.
George's 33 send Clippers past Lakers 116-109 on ring night
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES โ After the Los Angeles Lakers got their championship rings, the Los Angeles Clippers gave a performance that showed this retooled team is determined to contend for its own jewelry several months from now. Paul George scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half, Kawhi Leonard added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied past the Los Angeles Lakers on the NBA championsโ ring ceremony night for a 116-109 victory Tuesday. The Clippers beat the Lakers in the season opener for the second straight year while winning coach Tyronn Lueโs debut. Schrรถder also was impressive in his Lakers debut, with 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
John Wall back on floor, NBA opens preseason in empty arenas
Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford talks to players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. The NBA preseason โ a truncated 49-game, nine-day sprint โ opened Friday with a five-game slate, action returning to NBA arenas for the first time in exactly nine months. 8 pick Obi Toppin of the Knicks, got their first NBA minutes. Paul George had 10 for the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard managed three in 14 minutes. Both teams shot exactly 30 for 84 from the field, and none of the Clippers' starters logged even 15 minutes.
Clippers sign George to multiyear contract extension
FILE - Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George drives against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, in this March 1, 2020, file photo. Paul George wants to retire with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he took a step in that direction by signing a multi-year contract extension on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)LOS ANGELES โ Paul George wants to retire with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he took a step in that direction by signing a multiyear contract extension Thursday. Instead, the team locked down his services, ensuring George will remain not far from where he grew up in Palmdale. โAs a kid growing up in Southern California, I always dreamed of playing in Los Angeles, where my friends and family could come watch me play,โ he said.
Clippers confirm hiring of Tyronn Lue as coach
FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, in Detroit. Tyronn Lue has agreed in principle to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)LOS ANGELES โ The Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday confirmed their hiring of Tyronn Lue to replace Doc Rivers as coach. Rivers coached the Clippers for the last seven seasons and is now guiding the Philadelphia 76ers. Lue, who won two NBA championships as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers, went 128-83 in parts of four seasons as Cavs coach.