The Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 127-113 to earn their fifth straight victory on Sunday night.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Clippers with 28 points, John Collins 22 and Kawhi Leonard 20. Darius Garland added 15 points and 11 assists, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 13 points, which made 45 of 77 shots (58.4%).
On the other hand, Gary Trent Jr. dropped a season-high 36 points for Milwaukee, which had only eight players available.
Taurean Prince added 18 points, and AJ Green scored, as the team has lost 10 of its last 12 games.
Milwaukee stayed close 29-25 after one quarter with Trent scoring 11 points, including sinking 3 of 5 from three-point range.
Los Angeles started to pull away in the second, holding a 57-46 lead at the half after leading by as many as 16 behind Leonard’s 15 first-half points.
Meanwhile, Brook Lopez was honored with a video tribute in his first visit back to Milwaukee after being a member of the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship team.
The Clippers outscored the Bucks 39-28 in the third and extended their lead to as many as 24 in the fourth.
For injuries, Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out a seventh consecutive game for Milwaukee with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
The two-time MVP has played in a career-low 36 games this season.
The Bucks also were missing Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee), Bobby Portis (left wrist sprain), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles tendinopathy), Ryan Rollins (left hip flexor), Myles Turner (right knee), Gary Harris (personal reasons), and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (left calf).
Both teams will play home games on Tuesday night: the Clippers host the Trail Blazers, while the Bucks host the Mavericks.
