Harden, Powell score 24 points apiece as the Clippers hold off the Raptors 105-103

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — James Harden had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Norman Powell added 24 points and the Los Angeles Clippers barely hung on to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.

Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won three straight at Intuit Dome after starting 0-4 in their lavish new home.

Ochai Agbaji and Immanuel Quickley scored 21 points apiece for the Raptors, who have lost three straight and seven of eight.

After Quickley hit a tying 3-pointer with 39 seconds left, Powell and Harden combined to miss three of six free throws to leave the door open for Toronto. But Quickley and RJ Barrett both missed tough short shots under defensive pressure before Jakob Poeltl missed a putback attempt with 4.1 seconds left.

Kawhi Leonard still hasn't played this season while rehabilitating his right knee and won't travel on the Clippers' upcoming three-game trip, coach Tyronn Lue said.

Raptors: Quickley was outstanding in the fourth quarter of his first appearance since missing eight games with a pelvic bruise.

Clippers: LA showed resilience in its third set of back-to-back games already this season after winning in Sacramento on Friday.

Toronto was down three when Poeltl made his first free throw and intentionally missed his second, getting the ball to rebound right back to him. But he missed his 9-foot putback, and Harden threw the ball down the floor.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points in his highest-scoring performance since returning to the NBA this fall after spending a year out of the league following a domestic violence assault charge in September 2023. He averaged 19.3 points per game for Houston in 2022-23.

The Clippers visit the Thunder on Monday, and the Raptors stay in LA to face the Lakers on Sunday.

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

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) shoots over Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) is defended by Toronto Raptors forward Jonathan Mogbo (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann grabs a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) celebrates as he dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LUANDA, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday ducked questions on his decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola.

Dismissing shouted questions with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said to the Angolan delegation “welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday, and he has largely avoided any interaction with reporters since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last month.

Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly told the public he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family members. And Biden claimed that his own Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son.

The reversal drew criticism from many Democrats, who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks, as they fear the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20.

In June, Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in a Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”

In July, Jean-Pierre told reporters: “It’s still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No.”

In November, days after Trump’s victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no.”

Long and Miller reported from Washington.

President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden walk in downtown Nantucket Mass., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Joe Biden meets with Angola's President Joao Lourenco, at the presidential palace in the capital Luanda, Angola on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)