UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have leapfrogged ahead of the Utah Jazz in the battle for the NBA’s best record.
The Clippers won for the 10th time in 11 games by downing the Knicks, 129-115. Kawhi Leonard scored a 28 for the Clippers, and hit a season high for points, shot 54% overall and nailed 17 3-pointers. The offensive eruption came against a team that had been limiting opponents to 42.6% shooting.
Reggie Jackson finished with 18 points and Paul George added 17 to help the Clippers improve to 16-5.
Julius Randle had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, while rookie Immanuel Quickley added 25 points.
The Clippers took over first place in the NBA’s overall standings when the Nuggets ended Utah’s 11-game winning streak, 128-117.
Nikola Jokic matched his career high with 47 points on 17 of 26 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Jokic had 33 points by halftime and finished with 12 rebounds and five assists.
Will Barton added 18 points, and Jamal Murray had 16 to help the Nuggets win for the sixth time in seven games.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 29 points.
Checking out Sunday’s other NBA action:
— Tobias Harris poured in 27 points and Furkan Korkmaz added 17, including the go-ahead baskets in the fourth quarter of the 76ers’ comeback over the Pacers, 119-110. Philadelphia trailed by 16 early in the fourth but closed on a 31-6 run to pick up its sixth win in seven games.
— Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook hit 3-pointers in the final seconds to push the Wizards past the Nets, 149-146. Westbrook had 41 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Beal scored 22 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter.
— The Raptors’ three-game skid is over after Pascal Siakam had 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 115-102 decision over the Magic. Kyle Lowry had 12 points and 14 assists for Toronto, while Aaron Baynes added eight points and 16 boards.
— Malik Beasley furnished 23 points and rookie Anthony Edwards finished with 23 in his second straight start as the Timberwolves held on to beat the Cavaliers, 109-104. D’Angelo Russell added 19 points for Minnesota, which snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 17 games.
