Kawhi Leonard Stars as Clippers Dominate Bucks 129-96 Victory

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in just 25 minutes as the Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Milwaukee Bucks 129-96 on Monday night.

Brook Lopez added 19 points, while Darius Garland contributed 15 points and six assists. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Clippers, improving their record to .500 with 10 games left in the regular season, after a 6-21 start on December 18.

Gary Trent Jr. led the Bucks with 20 points off the bench. Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee’s starters with 13 points, and five Bucks players scored in double figures. Milwaukee has struggled recently, losing 10 of their last 14 games, including three of four without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out due to a left knee injury.

The Clippers dominated the 3-point line, making 17 of 38 attempts (45%). In the first half, Los Angeles hit 11 of 22 threes, including a 7-for-12 stretch in the second quarter, helping them build a 43-point quarter. The Clippers extended their lead to 46 in the second half, with Lopez shooting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc in the third quarter.

Leonard, who sat out the entire fourth quarter, recovered from a slow start to shoot 8 of 18 from the field and make nine free throws, scoring 16 points in the second quarter.

In his 14th NBA season, Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game, helping the Clippers secure an almost certain spot in the play-in tournament despite their early-season struggles.