Kawhi Leonard's 18 points lead Raptors to 18-point win over Clippers

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Gilbert McGregor
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• 7 min read
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Fresh off of a historic comeback win in Detroit, the LA Clippers (29-25) failed to get past the the Raptors (38-16), who bounced back from a home loss suffered to the Bucks on Thursday night in a major way.

With its 121-103 win over LA, Toronto sweeps the season series, as it earned a 24-point win at the Staples Center on Dec. 11. The Clippers are the seventh Western Conference opponent the Raptors have swept this season (Grizzlies, Jazz, Kings, Mavericks, Suns, Warriors).

For live score updates, highlights and stats from this afternoon's game, follow along below.

Toronto Raptors vs. LA Clippers

Box Score | Play-by-play

Final: Raptors 121, Clippers 103

5:19 p.m. –  2:33 remains in the fourth quarter and the Raptors lead 119-99.

While the Clippers pulled off a big comeback last night, it looks like Raptors are going to earn their 38th win of the season, a big momentum builder before heading on a three-game road trip.

5:08 p.m. – Timeout on the floor.

Toronto leads 109-88 with 7:13 remaining in the game.

End of Third Quarter: Raptors 97, Clippers 80

4:54 p.m. –  As the third quarter comes to a close, the Raptors hold a 17-point lead over the visiting Clippers.

Toronto, who is shooting 47.2 percent from the field, is led by 18 points from Kawhi Leonard while Serge Ibaka has put forth a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Led by 12 points from Delon Wright, the Raptors reserves have accounted for 35 points through three quarters.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way with a game-high 19 points and is one of five Clippers to score in double-figures. Lou Williams has scored 16 points, Tobias Harris has 11 while Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley have both scored 10 points apiece.

4:44 p.m. –  4:18 remains in the third and the Raptors call for a timeout as the lead 83-70.

Pascal Siakam is up to 15 points on the night and Toronto's reserves have combined to score 21 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now five points shy of his career high with a game-high 19 points.


4:36 p.m. –  We've almost reached the midway point of the third quarter and the Clippers are trying to cut back into the deficit.

Timeout Raptors as they lead 76-62 with 6:44 remaining in the frame.

4:30 p.m. –  A little over three minutes have passed in the second half and the Raptors have gotten their lead back up to 16 points. 

Timeout LA as Toronto leads 75-58.

Kawhi Leonard has a game-high 18 points to lead the Raptors while Clippers rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 17 points – seven shy of his career high.

Halftime: Raptors 65, Clippers 51

4:08 p.m. –  One half is in the books at Scotiabank Arena and the Raptors head to the locker room with a 14-point lead after outscoring the Clippers 42-28 in the second quarter.

Toronto, who led by as many as 16 points in the half is led by 15 points (on 5-for-7 shooting) from Kawhi Leonard. Serge Ibaka has already registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in under 14 minutes of action.

LA is led by Canadian rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists in the half. Montrezl Harrell added 10 points while Lou Williams has scored eight points off the bench.

4:00 p.m. –  Kawhi Leonard is cooking

The Raptors All-Star forward has 10 points in the quarter and has a game-high 15 points.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a team-high 13 points for the Clippers and has been very impressive on both ends of the floor.


3:54 p.m. –  Montrezl Harrell wrangles a loose ball and calls for a timeout with 6:44 remaining in the second quarter.

The Raptors lead 43-32.

Delon Wright now has seven points to match the total of Fred VanVleet – Toronto's reserves have scored all 20 of the team's points in this quarter.

Former Raptor Lou Williams leads the way for LA with eight points.

3:49 p.m. –  Toronto has outscored LA 17-7 through the first 4.5 minutes of the second quarter and lead 40-30.

Timeout Clippers.

3:40 p.m. –  C.J. Miles gets the second quarter underway with a 3-pointer, successfully ending the Raptors' drought and gets the team's bench on the board.


End of First Quarter: Raptors 23, Clippers 23

3:38 p.m. –  After a hot start from the Raptors, the Clippers close the first quarter on a 12-0 run to tie things up at 23.

Toronto was paced by seven points from Fred VanVleet in the frame while Serge Ibaka added six points to go with six rebounds and Kawhi Leonard scored five points.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lou Williams have both scored a team-high six points. Williams is a big reason that the Clippers bench is outscoring the Raptors resevres 10-0.

3:26 p.m. –  Toronto is now on a 15-2 run over the last 4:07 and lead 21-11.

Timeout Clippers.

Serge Ibaka leads the way for the Raptors with six points and six rebounds.

LA is led by six points from rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

3:20 p.m. –  We've almost reached the midway point of the first quarter and we have our first timeout.

At the first break in the action, the Raptors lead the Clippers 14-11.

3:10 p.m. –  Hamilton native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the game underway with a driving layup.


Pregame

2:35 p.m. –  All smiles for Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is playing in his native country for the first time since he was a sophomore in high school.


2:30 p.m. –  With Kyle Lowry out, the Raptors will start Fred VanVleet, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka.


1:30 p.m. –  Per multiple reports, All-Star guard Kyle Lowry will miss Sunday afternoon's game with back soreness.


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Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.