Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, tries to get around Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett, top, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
RJ Barrett had 20 points and seven assists and the Toronto Raptors used an explosive third quarter to defeat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 115-108 on Sunday afternoon.
The Raptors broke open a halftime tie with a 31-16 third quarter spurred by 19 fast-break points to gain a split of the season series.
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Scottie Barnes added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who have split the first two games of four straight at home. Jakob Poeltl had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Gradey Dick scored 18 points, Ochai Agbaji scored 12, Immanuel Quickley had 11 and Ja’Kobe Walter added 10 points.
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James Harden had 25 points for the Clippers, who finished a 2-2 road trip. Ivica Zubac added 18 points and former Raptor Kawhi Leonard scored 14. Kevin Porter Jr. added 17 points and Nicolas Batum scored 11.
Former Raptor Norman Powell (hip) did not play for the Clippers.
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The Raptors used a fast-paced tempo to take a 36-32 lead after the first quarter.
Los Angeles overcame a seven-point deficit to take a 45-44 lead on Porter’s 19-foot, pullup jumper with 8:00 left in the second quarter. The Clippers led by three with 59 seconds left and were denied a chance to increase the margin when Poeltl’s spectacular block stopped Zubac on a cutting dunk. Toronto responded with six straight points before Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer left the teams tied 61-61 at halftime.
Toronto led by five with 6:06 left in the third quarter after Barnes snagged a defensive rebound and bounced a pass that sprung Dick for an uncontested layup.
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The lead reached 11 with 3:31 left on Dick’s driving dunk to complete an 8-0 surge. Toronto bumped the lead to 18 on Agbaji’s layup with 25 seconds left after Walter snatched a defensive rebound. Toronto led 92-77 after three quarters.
Leonard’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 10 points with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. He missed two free throws 33 seconds later.
Toronto regained the 15-point lead on Walter’s 3-pointer with 5:47 to go. Barrett took a nasty spill under the basket after making a layup with 4:50 to play but was able to continue.
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