Harden, Powell score 24 points apiece as Clippers edge Raptors 105-103

By Greg Beacham, The Associated Press on November 9, 2024.

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – James Harden had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Norman Powell added 24 points and the Los Angeles Clippers barely hung on to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.

Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won three straight at Intuit Dome after starting 0-4 in their lavish new home.

Ochai Agbaji and Immanuel Quickley scored 21 points apiece for the Raptors, who have lost three straight and seven of eight.

After Quickley hit a tying 3-pointer with 39 seconds left, Powell and Harden combined to miss three of six free throws to leave the door open for Toronto. But Quickley and RJ Barrett both missed tough short shots under defensive pressure before Jakob Poeltl missed a putback attempt with 4.1 seconds left.

Kawhi Leonard still hasn’t played this season while rehabilitating his right knee and won’t travel on the Clippers’ upcoming three-game trip, coach Tyronn Lue said.

TAKEAWAYS

Raptors: Quickley was outstanding in the fourth quarter of his first appearance since missing eight games with a pelvic bruise.

Clippers: L.A. showed resilience in its third set of back-to-back games already this season after winning in Sacramento on Friday.

KEY MOMENT

Toronto was down three when Poeltl made his first free throw and intentionally missed his second, getting the ball to rebound right back to him. But he missed his nine-foot putback, and Harden threw the ball down the floor.

KEY STAT

Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points in his highest-scoring performance since returning to the NBA this fall after spending a year out of the league following a domestic violence assault charge in September 2023. He averaged 19.3 points per game for Houston in 2022-23.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Clippers: Visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA