Leonard, Powell lead Clippers past Bulls, 108-103

CHICAGO (AP)— Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 27 to helpthe Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 108-103 on Tuesdaynight.

Paul Georgeadded 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who’ve won six ofseven.

NikolaVucevic had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bulls, whodropped the first of a four-game homestand. DeMar DeRozan added 20points and Zach LaVine finished with 18 points and 14 boards.

Los Angelesled 85-84 after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth butcouldn’t shake the Bulls until the final seconds. With the Clippersahead 106-103, Leonard stole the ball from LaVine and made bothfree throws with 5.2 seconds left to close the door.

“That’s thereason we’ve been winning, because our defense has picked it up andcarried us,” George said. “I think we caught our rhythm because ofour defense and were able to stay in the game.”

Los Angeleshad 15 steals as it forced 20 turnovers overall by Chicago, two offthe Bulls’ worst mark of the season.

Powell,meanwhile, came off the bench to outscore the Bulls’ reserves byhimself, 27-20.

“He’s instantoffense,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “Just come in the game and he canget it going quick. He was huge for us tonight.”

The Clipperstrailed by as many as 19 points midway through the second quarterbut went to halftime down just 58-54 thanks to a 16-2 run in thefinal minutes.

“No matterhow you lose, it sucks. Period,” DeRozan said. “A team like that,veteran guys, extremely well coached, they’re not going to giveup.”

Ivica Zubacfinished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.

TIP-INS

Clippers:George and Leonard returned after both were held out of Sunday’sloss at Cleveland with knee soreness.

Bulls: LaVinedrew a foul at the top of the key from Powell with 1:03 left butmissed the first two of three free throws to keep the Bulls behind104-103. ... DeRozan had a career-worst eight turnovers.“Careless,” he said. “It’s entirely too much and we can’t let thathappen.”