Bogdan Bogdanovic delivered his best scoring performance of the season, finishing with 30 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Miami Heat 119-104 on Wednesday night.
Ivica Zubac contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds, recording his 10th consecutive double-double in the victory.
James Harden added 24 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last five games.
The Clippers (36-30) remain in eighth place in the Western Conference but moved within 1.5 games of the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors.
Tyler Herro led Miami with 31 points, while Andrew Wiggins scored 22.
The Heat (29-36) have now lost five straight games, falling further behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 7 seed in the East.
Los Angeles took control early, outscoring Miami 30-20 in the first quarter.
Miami responded with a strong second period, cutting the deficit to 57-52 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Clippers extended their lead behind Bogdanovic’s efficient shooting and Zubac’s dominance in the paint.
A crucial 13-4 run midway through the fourth quarter gave Los Angeles a comfortable 17-point advantage, sealing the win.
Kawhi Leonard did not play due to injury management on the second night of a back-to-back.
Brian Shaw served as the Clippers’ acting head coach for the third straight game, as Tyronn Lue remained out with back issues.
Zubac’s streak of 10 straight double-doubles puts him in elite company this season, joining Domantas Sabonis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama.
The Clippers shot 59.2% from the field and 48.1% from three-point range, overwhelming Miami’s defense.
Miami struggled offensively, shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc.
Duncan Robinson added 15 points off the bench for the Heat, but it wasn’t enough to stop their losing skid.
This marks Miami’s worst stretch of the season, with just nine wins in its last 28 games.
