Leonard scores 33 as Clippers extend win streak to 5 with 131-90 rout of Kings

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and the Los Angeles Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games Tuesday night with a 131-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

James Harden had 21 points while John Collins and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser each added 16 for the Clippers, who have found a successful formula after not winning more than two consecutive games before their current run of success began.

Leonard’s productive night came after he scored a career-best 55 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. He has averaged 37.8 points over the past five games.

Los Angeles’ win streak started on the same night center Ivica Zubac went down with a left ankle sprain. Zubac has not played in any of the past four games.

Nique Clifford scored 18 points while Maxime Raynaud and Russell Westbrook each had 12 for the Kings, who fell to 3-12 since Nov. 26. Raynaud also grabbed 12 rebounds, but Sacramento lost its fifth consecutive road game.

Westbrook added four assists and a pair of 3-pointers against his former team.

The Clippers left little doubt from the start. They led 34-20 after one quarter and were up by 36 in the second before taking a 70-43 advantage into halftime. They shot 57.1% from the floor in the second quarter while scoring 39 points, with Leonard delivering 18 of them.

Leonard had 30 points through three quarters as the Clippers led 100-71 and coasted from there.

Los Angeles shot 51.1% from the field overall while posting its largest margin of victory this season. Sacramento shot 41% from the floor.

The Clippers committed just four turnovers while forcing the Kings into 19 that they turned into 28 points.

Kings: Home against the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Clippers: Home against the Utah Jazz on Thursday.

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

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is fouled by by Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schröder, right, as center Maxime Raynaud helps on defense in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook, center, and forward Demar Derozan (10) try to steal the ball from Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) has his shot blocked by Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Demar Derozan, front, is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) as teammate Yanic Konan Niederhäuser tries to help on defense in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 17 points on his 41st birthday, but Cade Cunningham had 27 points and 11 assists while leading the Detroit Pistons to a 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

James hit three 3-pointers and added four assists and four rebounds in the 1,577th regular-season game of his unprecedented 23rd season, but he spent the final minutes of his birthday game sitting with his arms folded on the bench while watching the conclusion of the Lakers' fourth loss in five games.

The top scorer in league history is the 12th player to appear in an NBA game at 41 or older — just the sixth in this century.

Marcus Sasser scored a season-high 19 points and Isaiah Stewart had 15 for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who snapped their two-game skid to finish 3-2 on their West Coast trip.

Detroit won its third straight meeting with the Lakers despite losing third-leading scorer Tobias Harris to a left hip sprain in the first quarter.

Luka Doncic had 30 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, who have lost four of five for the first time since last season's playoffs. Jaxson Hayes had 13 points, but the Lakers couldn't match up defensively with the hard-nosed Pistons.

Detroit took control early with accurate shooting, consistent drives to the rim and a re-establishment of its defensive prowess after getting shredded by Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers two days ago. The Pistons weathered a tying rally led by James in the third quarter before surging ahead with a 16-6 run extending into the fourth.

Detroit scored 74 points in the paint, repeatedly beating Deandre Ayton and the Lakers' undersized frontline down low.

The Lakers fell to 20-11, and they still haven't taken a single-digit loss all season.

Pistons: Host the Miami Heat on Thursday.

Lakers: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

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

Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser (25) reacts after a basket by Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) dunks the ball while being guarded by Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) looks to pass the ball while being guarded by Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)