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Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105

Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 | iNFOnews.ca
LA Clippers' James Harden (1) talks to Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden scored 31 points, Kawhi Leonard had 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-105 on Friday night.

Reserve guard Jordan Miller made his first six shots and added 21 points. John Collins had 16 for the Clippers, who bounced back from their loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday to win for the eighth time in 10 games. Leonard, questionable earlier in the day with a sprained right ankle, started slowly but had 19 points in the second half.

Rookie guard Egor Demin scored 19 points for the Nets, who lost on a buzzer-beater in overtime against Orlando on Wednesday. But it was quickly clear this one would never be close.

Michael Porter Jr. struggled to 18 points, missing all nine 3-point attempts.

The Clippers scored the first eight points, and after Nic Claxton made two free throws, Harden scored the next six in an 8-0 run that made it 16-2. Demin made a 3-pointer to snap Brooklyn’s 0-for-8 start, but then Leonard and Harden scored to make the Clippers 8 for 9 and give them a 21-5 lead.

The Clippers opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to make it 45-25 on former Nets center Brook Lopez’s three-point play. Los Angeles led by 22 before taking a 63-47 halftime lead.

The Nets, playing four of their five first-round draft picks, often had at least one rookie on the floor and it appeared Harden was looking to punish any of them who had to guard him. The three-time NBA scoring champion shot 10 for 13, and when the Nets started sending a second defender at him, he found the open man and finished with six assists.

Brooklyn outscored Los Angeles 11-4 to start the third quarter and get back within single digits, but Leonard made a 3-pointer and the lead remained in double digits the rest of the way.

Up next

Clippers: Visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Nets: Visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

___

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

Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 | iNFOnews.ca
Brooklyn Nets’ Terance Mann, right, drives past LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 | iNFOnews.ca
LA Clippers’ John Collins (20) and Kris Dunn (8) fights for control of the ball with Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 | iNFOnews.ca
Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. (17) drives past LA Clippers’ James Harden (1) and Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Harden scores 31, Leonard has 26 and the Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 | iNFOnews.ca
Brooklyn Nets’ Terance Mann (14) drives past LA Clippers’ James Harden (1) and Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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The Associated Press

Brian Mahoney

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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