Torrid Clippers take on suddenly surging Sixers
After another top defensive performance, the Los Angeles Clippers return home Monday to face the Philadelphia 76ers at Inglewood, Calif., as their NBA-best run of success is now over a month old.
The Clippers improved to 17-4 since Dec. 20 with a 117-93 victory on Sunday over the host Phoenix Suns that came without the services of veteran James Harden, who was out on the first day of a back-to-back for personal reasons.
Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points for Los Angeles and had plenty of help from Jordan Miller, who scored 20 points off the bench, while center Ivica Zubac had 20 rebounds with 14 points. It was Zubac's first 20-rebound game of the campaign after hitting that mark five times last seasons.
Los Angeles is ninth in the Western Conference standings, one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers sit three games behind the Golden State Warriors for eighth place.
Leonard's play has led the Clippers' resurgence, while team defense has made a major impact. Los Angeles has held opponents under 100 points six times during their current run of success.
"Playing together, trusting, believing, and just playing for one another," Los Angeles head coach Tyronn Lue said about the recent stretch. "James (Harden) was out tonight and he is one of our big dogs, but other guys stepped up in his absence.
"... Once we hit that rough start at 6-21, once we challenged the guys, they've really taken off and they've really been good."
The Clippers are 10-1 at home since their turnaround began, including five consecutive victories.
The 76ers arrive in the Los Angeles area on a three-game winning streak after a 124-114 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Joel Embiid scored a season-high 40 points for Philadelphia with 11 rebounds.
Embiid was 13 of 27 from the floor (48.1%) and matched a season high with three 3-pointers on five attempts. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and All-Star Game starter Tyrese Maxey had 18 points with eight assists.
The win streak has come after the Sixers lost five of seven games going back to Jan. 14.
Embiid has averaged 26.2 points in 28 games and has at least 29 points in seven consecutive games but was not selected an All-Star reserve on Sunday. Leonard was not named, either, even as he has averaged 27.7 points in 34 games for the Clippers. Both have delivered despite histories of chronic knee issues.
Leonard could be a candidate to replace Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf injury).
"Keep pushing," Embiid said. "It was supposed to be basically a tryout for next year and moving forward. How are we going to do this? I would say I think we figured out the schedule and what we have to do every single day to make sure that I'm prepared and I feel good."
Sunday's game was expected to be the return of Philadelphia's Paul George against one of his former teams, but that was derailed by George's 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy. His suspension was handed down before Saturday's game.
Without their sharpshooter in George, the Sixers still went 17 of 36 (47.2%) from 3-point range Saturday against New Orleans, tied for their second-best accuracy mark from distance this season.