The LA Clippers outpaced the Toronto Raptors 119-94 at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, led by 27 points from Kawhi Leonard.
Darius Garland added 24 points, while Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to score 23, and Brook Lopez contributed 14 points, including 11 in the opening quarter that helped set the tone for Los Angeles’ third straight win.
The Clippers built a 14-point lead in the first quarter and extended it to 22 in the second, despite a late 11-1 run by Toronto that cut the deficit briefly.
Toronto struggled to capitalize on opportunities, shooting just 14.3% from the free-throw line in the second quarter and failing to convert on 10 offensive rebounds, limiting their comeback chances.
Mamukelashvili made consecutive three-pointers late in the third quarter, but Garland’s buzzer-beating 35-footer kept the Clippers comfortably ahead.
Los Angeles shot 51% overall and 46% from three, while Toronto managed 42% from the field and 34% beyond the arc. Free throws favored the home team 19 of 24, outscoring the Raptors by 15 points in the process.
Jakob Poeltl was briefly sidelined after a cut near his left eye but returned to finish with 10 points for Toronto. Brandon Ingram led the team with 18 points, followed by Sandro Mamukelashvili with 13.
With the win, the Clippers remain a half-game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, keeping their play-in hopes alive.
Toronto dropped to sixth in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Atlanta Hawks and a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Raptors look to rebound against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Los Angeles will visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday to continue its push toward a favorable play-in position.
