Kawhi Leads Clippers Over Lakers — Best Coast Sports Connection

Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard fight for a loose ball in a battle between Los Angeles’ NBA teams on Christmas Day. (©Ringo H.W. Chiu/Associated Press)

Kawhi Leonard (35 points, 12 rebounds) led a 15-point second half comeback as the Clippers defeated the Lakers 111-106 in a Christmas Day battle of Los Angeles. The Clippers (23-10) have beaten the Lakers (24-7) in both meetings this season.

Paul George scored 17 points and Montrezl Harrell added 18 points in the Clippers winning effort.

Kyle Kuzma (25 points) led a balanced attack for the Lakers, with help from Lebron James (23 points) and Anthony Davis (24 points). The high-scoring Lakers side was limited to just 43 second-half points, including an uncharacteristically cold 4th quarter (20 points). Lebron James fell one rebound shy of a triple-double.

The Lakers had a chance to tie the game late, but Patrick Beverley blocked a Lebron James shot with 3.6 seconds remaining. The ball was initially given to the Lakers, but after a replay review showed the ball grazing James’ hand on the way out of bounds, the ball was awarded to the Clippers, and they sealed the victory.

The two sides, among the best in the Western Conference, will meet twice more in the regular season (Jan. 28, Mar. 8). If the season ended today, they would be on opposite sides of the bracket, setting up a possible Western Conference Finals showdown. Let us hope we get so lucky.