James Harden and Kawhi Leonard led the Los Angeles Clippers to a dominant 121-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Harden and Leonard each scored 25 points, with Harden delivering 13 in the third quarter as the Clippers (37-30) pulled away. The team outscored Atlanta (32-35) 35-8 in that period, turning a halftime deficit into a commanding lead.
Leonard added six rebounds and a season-high five steals, while Harden contributed eight boards and seven assists. Ivica Zubac provided 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting, helping Los Angeles take control.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, playing his first game in Atlanta since being traded to the Clippers last month, scored 12 points and received a warm reception from Hawks fans during a first-quarter tribute.
Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Trae Young finished with 17 points and seven assists but committed seven turnovers. Atlanta’s offense collapsed in the third quarter, managing just eight points, the lowest single-quarter total of their season.
Los Angeles capitalized on a 14-0 run spanning halftime, erasing an 11-point deficit and never looking back. Nicolas Batum’s three-pointer just before the break started the surge, and the Clippers opened the second half with 11 straight points to take the lead.
The Clippers’ depth played a key role, with Derrick Jones Jr. adding 14 points off the bench. Ben Simmons returned from injury, logging 18 minutes and recording two points, four assists, and two steals.
Atlanta played without Clint Capela, who was absent for family reasons. The team struggled from deep, shooting just 27.3% (9-for-33) from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles remains in eighth place in the Western Conference, while the Hawks hold the seventh spot in the East as they continue their push for a playoff berth.
