Leonard’s 33 points lead Clippers over Warriors, 134-124

LOS ANGELES(AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have 22 games remaining tointegrate their trade deadline acquisitions. They didn’t waste anytime.

KawhiLeonardscored 33 points, tying his career high with seven3-pointers, and the Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors 134-124on Tuesday night to snap a two-game skid.

“TheClippers just outplayed us,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Theywere great in the second half and they deserved it.”

NormanPowell added 24 points and Paul George had 20 points and eightassists for the Clippers, who debuted newly acquired Eric Gordon,Bones Hyland and Mason Plumlee. They helped outscore the Warriors’bench, 49-42.

“It’s goingto be different for us,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We got toput this together as fast as we can.”

Gordonfinished with seven points, Hyland had six and Plumlee scored eightin the teams’ last game before the All-Star break.

“They did agood job of just being themselves and being aggressive,” Leonardsaid.

Leonard was12 of 17 from the floor, 7 of 9 from 3-point range and made both ofhis free throws in 34 minutes.

“I keptshooting with confidence,” he said.

JordanPooleled seven Warriors in double figures with 28 points.Klay Thompson had 18 points playing the second game of aback-to-back for the first time this season. Kevon Looney had 11points and 14 rebounds.

TheWarriors fell to 29-29 at the break. They hope to have StephenCurry back not long after the season resumes, while newly acquiredGary Payton II could be out a month.

“We havereinforcements coming and we have a lot to look forward to,” Kerrsaid. “We have lost so many games that we should have won. We knowwe’re right there.”

Gordon’s3-pointer extended the Clippers’ lead to 18 points early in thefourth. The Warriors cut it to 116-106 onJonathanKuminga’s3-pointer. He finished with 16 points off thebench.

Leonard hithis seventh 3-pointer in the closing minutes before leaving thegame with the Clippers ahead 128-114.

The teamstraded leads and were tied five times early in the third. TheClippers outscored the Warriors 19-7 over the final minutes to lead105-93 going into the fourth. Leonard and George had just twopoints each while their supporting cast carried them. Plumlee hadsix points and Hyland had two during the run in which sevendifferent players scored.

“With thisoffense, I feel like I can create in the lane and find teammates,”Hyland said. “I forgot Mason can push the ball, too.”

TheWarriors had four players in double figures at halftime when theyled 65-61.

TIP-INS

Warriors:Thompson missed 11 games, all second games of back-to-backs, due toright Achilles tendon injury management. ... Andrew Wiggins was outfor personal reasons and will rejoin the team after the All-Starbreak. Donte DiVincenzo started in his place and scored 10 points.... Kerr got a technical late in the third for arguing a call. ...Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness) missed his 16th straightgame.

Clippers:Hyland will run the point for the second unit. “Just watching him,the pop he has, running pick and rolls, getting downhill, attackingand making the right passes, making the right plays,” Lue said.

GREEN’S CRITIQUE

DraymondGreenwas critical of the Warriors’ defense, something thathas concerned Kerr all season.

“Defense isall about a will — a want to defend. Defense isn’t fun. You justgot to want to do it if you want to win and we haven’t,” Greensaid. “I’m always going to try on that side, but I can be better.I’m not going to point the finger at anyone or point blame. Ifyou’re a leader at something and you’re failing, it’s yourfault.”