BY BETH HARRIS, AP Sports journalist
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Oklahoma City 108-101 on Sunday for the seventh straight and second straight over the thunder.
Serge Ibaka added 17 points. At 13-4, the Clippers are linked to the Lakers for the best record in the NBA. Leonard had a total of nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 31 points in LA’s 14-point win over Donner on Friday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 23 points against his former team, and George Hill added 22 points. Oklahoma City has lost three in a row and five out of six.
Hill hit three direct 3-pointers for the Thunder after they were 17 points behind in the fourth. Reggie Jackson flipped the ball over and Luguentz there fed Gilgeous-Alexander a dunk that scored 11 points in a row, reducing the deficit to 102-96.
Leonard dived to stop the thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled in and hit, the thunder coming back within six. Oklahoma City had to commit a foul in the final seconds. Jackson made 4 of 6 free throws to close it.
The Thunder hung around the third and reduced their deficit to 72-67. But Leonard hit a 3-pointer and another basket and quickly restored the Clippers’ double-digit lead. They were backed by Jackson’s 10 points, including eight in a row, from the bank.
The Thunder fell 17 points in the first half and closed within eight points three times in the second quarter. Leonard hit a 3-pointer which led the Clippers into halftime, leading 56-45.
Donner: For the first time in 16 games – all starts – couldn’t make at least one 3-pointer there and miss all six attempts. He’s still leading the team at 34. Mike Muscala extended his own streak with 1 out of 9 and is second on the team with 27 3 seconds. … Oklahoma City finished 7 out of 35 from a distance, falling to 1-7 against the west.
Clippers: Your bank was 11 out of 33 in the game, with Lou Williams missing 8 out of 9 shots. … Marcus Morris had to sit out due to illness.
Donner: On Monday in Portland.
Clippers: In Atlanta on Tuesday to kick off a six-game road trip.
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