NBA roundup: Lakers halt slide, Leonard drops 55, Suns react to suspensions
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LOS ANGELES — The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak on Sunday by overpowering the Sacramento Kings, turning in what head coach JJ Redick called their “most complete effort in days.”
Lakers
LeBron James set the tone early, converting 11 of 13 shots and finishing with 24 points as Los Angeles controlled the game from the opening tip. Luka Doncic paced the club with 34 points, 15 of them in the second quarter, helping the Lakers create decisive separation.
Redick had questioned his team’s effort and professionalism twice during the week, but those issues were nowhere to be seen. “I don’t want to create the narrative of just me and Luka,” James said. “It’s five guys on the floor and seven off the bench. It needs to be all of us.”
Doncic agreed, noting that Austin Reaves will miss at least a month with a calf strain. “When AR is back, it’s going to be all three of us,” he said. “But now, it starts with us. We need to show what we can do. The group is going to follow.”
Clippers
Across town, Kawhi Leonard delivered one of the most explosive nights of his career, pouring in a career-high 55 points to tie the franchise record as the Clippers beat the Detroit Pistons. Leonard played only six minutes in the fourth quarter with the outcome already decided.
“Like I told (head coach Tyronn Lue), I would rather play another game than go out there and risk it,” Leonard said afterward. The win marked the Clippers’ fourth straight.
Suns
Suns interim coach Jordan Ott pointed to the officiating style as a factor in the fight that led to suspensions for Mark Williams and Jose Alvarado during Saturday’s meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans, the second game of a back-to-back set. Both players threw punches and were suspended.
“Last night, there were a lot of free throws,” Ott said. “Tonight, there wasn’t as much. They let us play, which is something we enjoy. They got tangled up.”
Source: Hoops Wire
