Kawhi Leonard scores career-best 55 points as Clippers beat Pistons

Kawhi Leonard delivered a career-high 55 points to match the franchise record and the Los Angeles Clippers used a seasoned starting lineup to earn a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif., and extend their winning streak to a season-high four games.

James Harden scored 28 points and Nicolas Batum added 12 as the Clippers won their third consecutive home game following a run of eight consecutive losses in their own building.

With multiple absences, including center Ivica Zubac (ankle), the Clippers started three players age 36 or over in Harden, Brook Lopez and Batum. Adding Leonard, the Clippers became the first team since 2016 with four starters at least 34 years in age.

Leonard looked as young as ever with 26 points in the third quarter alone while going 17 of 26 from the floor in the game. He added 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots He also made five treys.

Harden set the franchise mark of 55 points just against the Charlotte Hornets. He set the mark in a 131-116 win on Nov. 22.

Cade Cunningham scored 27 points, all in the second half, and Jalen Duren added 18 for the Pistons, who lost consecutive games for just the second time this season after falling at Utah on Friday. Detroit is 2-2 on a five-game road trip to end the calendar year.

Jaden Ivey scored 11 points for the Pistons, who missed all 12 of their 3-point attempts in the first half and shot 24.1% from distance (7 of 29) in the game.

Cunningham did not score a point in the first half after picking up his third foul with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter.

The Clippers led by as many as 20 points in the first half and withstood a 12-point scoring burst from Cunningham just over three minutes into the second half.

Leonard passed his previous career high of 45 points on two free throws with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter for an 87-65 lead. His streak of consecutive free throws ended at 64 with a miss in the third.

Derrick Jones Jr. returned for the Clippers after missing the past 17 games with a right knee sprain and scored three points with three rebounds in 18 minutes.

--Field Level Media