"NEW YORK - James Harden scored 31 points, Kawhi Leonard had 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-105 on Friday night. Reserve guard Jordan Miller made his first six shots and added 21 points. John Collins had 16 for the Clippers, who bounced back from their loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday to win for the eighth time in 10 games. Leonard, questionable earlier in the day with a sprained right ankle, started slowly but had 19 points in the second half."
"The Clippers scored the first eight points, and after Nic Claxton made two free throws, Harden scored the next six in an 8-0 run that made it 16-2. Demin made a 3-pointer to snap Brooklyn's 0-for-8 start, but then Leonard and Harden scored to make the Clippers 8 for 9 and give them a 21-5 lead. The Clippers opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to make it 45-25 on former Nets center Brook Lopez's three-point play. Los Angeles led by 22 before taking a 63-47 halftime lead."
"The Nets, playing four of their five first-round draft picks, often had at least one rookie on the floor and it appeared Harden was looking to punish any of them who had to guard him. The three-time NBA scoring champion shot 10 for 13, and when the Nets started sending a second defender at him, he found the open man and finished with six assists. Brooklyn Nets' Terance Mann, right, drives past LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II"
James Harden scored 31 points and Kawhi Leonard added 26 as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 121-105. Reserve guard Jordan Miller made his first six shots and finished with 21 points, while John Collins contributed 16. Leonard, who was questionable with a sprained right ankle, delivered 19 second-half points. Rookie Egor Demin led Brooklyn with 19 points, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 while missing all nine 3-point attempts. The Clippers built a large early lead, led 63-47 at halftime, and maintained a double-digit advantage through the fourth quarter.
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