EditorsNote: 7th graf tweaked
Marcus Morris Sr. and Luke Kennard each scored 20 points to lead seven players in double figures, and the Los Angeles Clippers hammered the visiting Indiana Pacers 129-96 on Sunday.
Morris converted 7 of 11 shots and 4 of 7 from 3-point range, while Kennard made 7 of 12 attempts and 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Paul George also scored 20 for the Clippers, who played without forward Serge Ibaka (undisclosed illness) and guard Lou Williams (hip). Williams sat out his second consecutive contest.
Kawhi Leonard finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Patrick Beverley contributed 11 points, six assists and five rebounds for Los Angeles.
Doug McDermott scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting -- including 5 of 7 from 3-point range -- for the Pacers, who were without center Myles Turner (hand), the NBA's leader in blocks at 4.2 per game.
Domantas Sabonis had 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points and eight assists for the Pacers. Justin Holiday chipped in 15 points.
The Clippers, who led by as many as 34 points, blew the contest open in the third quarter. After a bucket by Sabonis brought the Pacers within 63-61 less than two minutes into the third, the Clippers outscored them 37-14 during the rest of the quarter for a 100-75 lead heading into the fourth.
The Clippers trailed 23-19 after a layup by McDermott with 4:32 left in the first quarter. However, Los Angeles staged a 17-3 run for a 36-26 advantage at the end of the quarter.
In the second, the Clippers increased the lead to as many as 18 before the Pacers rallied. A 20-5 surge pulled Indiana to within 56-53 after a 3-pointer by McDermott with 1:43 left in the quarter. However, the Clippers maintained the edge, taking a 61-55 lead at the break.
The Clippers' bench outscored the Pacers 65-14. Los Angeles also connected on 19 of 39 shots from 3-point range, while Indiana made 11 of 38 attempts from beyond the arc.
--Field Level Media
