James Harden and Brook Lopez lead Clippers to third straight win

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — James Harden had 34 points, Brook Lopez scored 31 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-103 on Friday night for their third straight win.

Kawhi Leonard pitched in 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, including 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The Clippers outscored the Blazers 63-41 in the second half, including a 19-1 run in the third quarter to take control.

A free throw by Donovan Clingan made it 71-59 Blazers with 8:16 left in the third quarter, matching Portland’s biggest lead of the game. After a drought for both teams, the Clippers took over.

After Lopez’s seventh 3-pointer made it 72-67, acting Blazers coach Tiago Splitter was called for a technical foul. Leonard made the free throw to make it 72-68.

Harden hit two free throws and then scored on a driving layup to tie the game at 72.

The Clippers took their first lead at 75-72 with 3:23 left in the third quarter on Lopez’s eighth 3. Lopez connected on his ninth 3 to make it 78-72.

Harden’s four-point play with 1:06 left in the third quarter pushed the lead to 85-77.

Leonard had a ferocious dunk on Clingan to make it 95-86.

After a basket by Avdija cut LA's lead to 7, the Clippers had a six-point possession to push their lead to 101-88 with 8:19 left.

After the Clippers cut Portland’s first-half lead to 52-50, the Blazers went on a 9-0 run, capped by a fast break dunk from Shaedon Sharpe to make it 61-50, forcing a Clippers timeout.

After the timeout, a three-point play from Harden and a 3-pointer from Kobe Sanders helped cut the Portland lead to 62-56 at halftime.

The Clippers host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

The Blazers host the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

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

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) shoots in front of Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez, center, shoots between Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, left, and forward Deni Avdija during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement to end weeks of armed combat along their border over competing claims to territory. It took effect at noon local time.

In addition to ending fighting, the agreement calls for no further military movements by either side and no violations of either side’s airspace for military purposes.

Only Thailand had employed airstrikes in the fighting, hitting sites in Cambodia as recently as Saturday morning according to the country's defense ministry.

Another major clause calls for Thailand —“after the ceasefire has been fully maintained for 72 hours”— to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held as prisoners since earlier fighting in July. Their release has been a major demand of the Cambodian side.

It says the two sides are committed to an earlier ceasefire that ended five days of fighting in July and follow-up agreements.

The original July ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalized in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.

Despite those deals, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued, escalating in early December to widespread heavy fighting.

In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, left, stands with Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, right, at the General Border Committee Meeting in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AKP via AP)

Illumination flares fired by Thai military forces shine in Poipet, Cambodia, as seen from Sa Kaeo, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, following clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

The Thai military fires artillery towards Cambodia, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, seen from Thailand's Sa Kaeo province. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, left, stands with Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, right, at the General Border Committee Meeting in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AKP via AP) g