Norman Powell scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard continued his strong recent surge since opening the season on the injured list with 21 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the host Charlotte Hornets 112-104 on Friday night.
Ivica Zubac and James Harden both racked up 14 points, Derrick Jones Jr. had 12 and Amir Coffey came off the bench for 10 as the Clippers won for the fourth time in their last five games.
Miles Bridges scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Vasilije Micic supplied 20 points for the Hornets, who lost for the fifth time in their last six outings.
Moussa Diabate had 11 points and 14 rebounds off the bench and Josh Green posted 10 points but Charlotte couldn’t overcome 7-for-30 shooting on 3-pointers. Bridges was 1-for-8 from distance.
Powell shot 11-for-15 from the field with two 3-point baskets. Leonard connected on four of the Clippers’ 11 makes from 3-point range. Those helped make up for the team’s 18 turnovers and the starters’ combined 9-for-16 effort on free throws.
The Hornets, who won’t have injured guard and scoring leader LaMelo Ball back in the lineup until at least next week because of an ankle injury, cut a 10-point hole in the final quarter to 97-95 before Powell’s basket and Harden’s 3-pointer. Charlotte was within 106-99 after Micic made two free throws with 3:11 to play, but back-to-back buckets by Powell and Leonard in a 25-second span pretty much dashed the comeback bid.
The Clippers led 53-48 at halftime and stretched the lead in the third quarter but had difficulty fully shaking the Hornets.
Powell has registered at least 20 points in 12 of his last 13 games. Harden has been dinged with six turnovers in four of the last five games, though he distributed 10 assists Friday night.
The Hornets, who dropped to 1-4 in a nine-game homestand, outscored Los Angeles 35-24 in bench points.
