NORMAN Powell scored 20 points and Ivica Zubac added 18 points to go along with 18 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers celebrated the season debut of Kawhi Leonard with a 131-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday in Inglewood, California (Sunday in Manila).
Amir Coffey scored 17 points while Leonard had 12 on 4-of-11 shooting in 19 minutes of court time after missing the first 34 games of the season due to a right knee injury. Terance Mann (finger) also returned to action after missing the past 11 games and scored 12 points in 16 minutes.
Los Angeles took control early, leading by as many as 27 points in the first half before improving to 12-2 at home since Nov. 4.
Trae Young scored 20 points and dished out 14 assists and De’Andre Hunter added 18 points as the Hawks lost for the second consecutive night in the Los Angeles area following a 119-102 setback against the Lakers on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Leonard made his first shot of the season, a 3-pointer from the left wing just over two minutes into the game.
In other games, it was the Pistons 119; Wolves 105; Nuggets 122, Spurs 111 (OT); In other games, it was the Sixers 123, Nets 94; Pacers 126, Suns 108; Jazz 136, Heat 100; Bulls 139, Knicks 126; Blazers 105, Bucks 102; and Warriors 121, Grizzlies 113.
Pistons 119, Wolves 105
Cade Cunningham poured in a season-high 40 points to go along with nine assists to offset Anthony Edwards’ career-high 53 points as host Detroit defeated Minnesota.
Edwards had been limited to 20 points or less in eight of his previous 14 games. His previous career high was 51 points, a mark he reached against the Washington Wizards on April 9, 2024. Cunningham’s previous season high was 35 points.
Malik Beasley supplied 23 points off the bench as Detroit won its third straight game. Tobias Harris had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win, while Julius Randle had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves.
Nuggets 122, Spurs 111 (OT)
Nikola Jokic scored 46 points, including the first seven in overtime, as visiting Denver rode its superstar to a win over San Antonio in the final game of a back-to-back between the teams.
The Spurs won 113-110 on Friday in Denver in the opener of the home-and-home set. Overall, the Nuggets have won four of their past five games. San Antonio led by 11 points after three quarters on Saturday, but the Nuggets charged back to briefly take the lead in the final minute of regulation before a Devin Vassell tip-in forced overtime.
Harrison Barnes led San Antonio with 22 points while Victor Wembanyama scored 20 and grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds.
