Clippers at Hawks
The Los Angeles Clippers aim to notch their ninth victory in the past 11 games when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Los Angeles has won four consecutive games and is 2-0 on a six-game road trip after scoring a 110-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
The Clippers have scored 150 points twice this season and one of the times occurred when they routed the visiting Hawks 150-101 on Nov. 16. Los Angeles is hoping forward Paul George (hamstring) can return after a six-game absence to play against Atlanta as the season-long custom has been to rest Leonard on the second end of a back-to-back. The Hawks have lost six of their past eight games and they suffered a 122-117 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday despite star point guard Trae Young recording 42 points and a season-high 15 assists. "We just put ourselves in such a big hole, it's hard to come back from," Young told reporters, referring to the club's 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit with 4 1/2 minutes left prior to the late-game charge.
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: Prime Ticket, FS Southeast
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (31-13): Leonard is on a roll with six straight 30-point efforts, the best stretch in franchise history since Lloyd Free had 11 consecutive 30-point performances during the 1979-80 season during the franchise's San Diego era. "I've got to try to get to my spots, my sweet spots, so if teams come double me then I give my teammates some open shots," said Leonard, who is averaging 36 points during the stretch. Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers was impressed with Tuesday's victory and said "we've won eight of 10 games. It is fun to watch them come together."
ABOUT THE HAWKS (10-34): Young has seven 40-point outings this season and ranks third in the NBA with a 29.2 scoring average. Four other players scored in double digits against Toronto but a whopping 24 turnovers sabotaged Atlanta's chances, leaving coach Lloyd Pierce with mixed feelings. "I thought our guys played well enough to win, we just couldn't figure it out from an execution standpoint, which is frustrating," Pierce told reporters. "And even with the effort to come back, it's just frustrating."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Clippers have won six of the past seven meetings.
2. Atlanta PF John Collins registered 17 points and 11 rebounds against Toronto for his fifth double-double in the past seven games.
3. Los Angeles PG Patrick Beverley (groin) departed Tuesday's contest and Rivers said he didn't yet know the extent of the injury.