- Clippers outscore Hornets by 35 points in largest margin of season
- Harden and Leonard combine for 54 points with 7 three-pointers
- Charlotte shoots 18% from deep in 9th sub-90 point game
The Los Angeles Clippers delivered a commanding performance Sunday night, overwhelming the Charlotte Hornets 123-88 behind James Harden's 31-point, 10-rebound showcase. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points as the team extended its recent surge, winning six of its last seven contests.
Ivica Zubac proved instrumental with 17 points and 14 rebounds, helping establish early dominance. The Clippers seized control through a 17-6 first-quarter run, transforming an 11-9 deficit into a double-digit lead they maintained throughout the game.
Defensive Adjustments Fuel Winning Streak: Coach Ty Lue's emphasis on switching schemes limited Charlotte to 34% field goal accuracy. This marked the fourth consecutive game where opponents failed to reach 100 points against LA's revamped defense.
The Hornets' 18% three-point shooting (6/33) contrasted sharply with the Clippers' 40% efficiency from deep. Modern NBA analytics highlight that teams shooting below 30% from three-point range lose 83% of games, per Basketball-Reference data.
Regional Dominance: The victory extends LA teams' 22-4 home record against Eastern Conference opponents this season. Staples Center crowds have witnessed 13 double-digit wins since December, reflecting improved roster cohesion post-Harden trade.
With this win, the Clippers (38-30) tighten their grip on the Western Conference's fourth seed, positioning themselves for potential home-court advantage in the first playoff round. Their Tuesday matchup against league-leading Cleveland could prove critical for postseason seeding.