The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Miami Heat 109-98 on Monday night, snapping a two-game skid and improving to 21-17. James Harden fueled a third-quarter rally with 13 of his 26 points, while Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac delivered standout performances.

Powell led Los Angeles with 29 points, shooting an efficient 12-for-17 from the field, including five three-pointers. Zubac notched his 25th double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and grabbing a season-high 20 rebounds. Harden added 11 assists, orchestrating the offense in crucial moments.

The Clippers played their first game in five days after Saturday’s contest was postponed due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 32 points and 11 rebounds, keeping Miami competitive despite the absence of Bam Adebayo, who sat out with lower back pain. Kel’el Ware contributed 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds off the bench, but the Heat’s three-game winning streak came to an end, dropping their record to 20-18.

Kevin Love, starting in Adebayo’s place, scored nine points, all from beyond the arc in the first quarter. Miami struggled to sustain its offensive momentum, shooting just 38.8% from the field and 32.7% from deep.

Los Angeles maintained a balanced attack, with contributions from Kawhi Leonard and the bench. Leonard, in his third game of the season, played 21 minutes under a minutes restriction, finishing with six points and five rebounds. The Clippers’ bench added 25 points, highlighted by Derrick Jones Jr.’s nine points and Mo Bamba’s five points and seven rebounds.

Harden’s dominant third quarter turned a tight contest into a double-digit advantage for the Clippers. The veteran guard sank three three-pointers during the stretch, exploiting Miami’s defensive lapses. Los Angeles shot 48.4% overall and outrebounded Miami 48-49, demonstrating control on both ends.

Herro’s fourth-quarter efforts, including three free throws, cut the Clippers’ lead to nine, but Powell responded with back-to-back threes to seal the victory. Despite their struggles from the free-throw line, shooting just 60%, the Clippers capitalized on Miami’s 15 turnovers to maintain their lead.

The Heat sorely missed Adebayo’s presence in the paint, as Zubac dominated the boards. Miami also played without Jimmy Butler, who was suspended for disciplinary reasons. The Heat’s bench was unable to fill the void, contributing only 27 points compared to Los Angeles’ 25.