INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points and James Harden had 32 to move into ninth place on the NBA's career scoring list, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Charlotte Hornets 117-109 on Monday night for their fourth win in five games.
Jordan Miller added 14 points and Ivica Zubac had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Nicolas Batum (33) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) goes up for a basket under pressure by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) celebrates his three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) works around Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LaMelo Ball had 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Hornets in their third loss in four games. Kon Knueppel scored 18 points, Moussa Diabaté had 13 points and 15 rebounds, Brandon Miller also scored 13 and Miles Bridges 11.
Harden, who began the night 14 points behind Shaquille O'Neal's 28,596 points for ninth, had 13 in the first half and then moved ahead on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.
After Tre Mann's 3-pointer gave Charlotte a 100-99 lead with 7:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, Harden scored eight points during a 15-1 run that gave Los Angeles a 13-point lead 4:02 later.
The Hornets followed with six consecutive point to pull to 114-107 with 1:22 to go, but that was as close as they got.
Leonard scored 20 points with five 3-pointers in the third quarter for the Clippers. Harden made two free throws and a layup, and Leonard hit a 3 for a 73-64 advantage. Ball scored seven consecutive points as Charlotte pulled one point behind with 2:21 left in the quarter and took the lead twice before Miller's layup just before the buzzer gave Los Angeles an 86-84 lead heading to the fourth.
Harden scored 11 points while playing the entire first quarter. He shot 3 for 7 from the field and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line. Harden then had two points in the second quarter on 1-for-7 shooting as the Clippers took a 45-43 lead at the break. Leonard had 10 points in the half.
Hornets: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in the third of a five-game trip.
Clippers: Host Washington on Wednesday night to finish a two-game homestand.
AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/nba
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Nicolas Batum (33) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) goes up for a basket under pressure by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) celebrates his three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) works around Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
PARIS (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka's diamonds sparkled in the sun when she won her first-round match at the heat-soakedFrench Open on Tuesday.
Top-ranked Sabalenka looked light on her feet on Court Philippe-Chatrier, despite wearing two thick necklaces in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” said Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year to Coco Gauff. “So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”
The four-time major winner was initially going to wear three necklaces but said she thought that might be too much.
“It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I’m wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better,” she said. "I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court. I know the dress that I will wear on the Grand Slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit."
Sabalenka said she wasn't worried over her jewelry away from Roland Garros.
“I have my fiancé. He’s kind of like my security,” she said, smiling. “My physio does jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”
Gauff began her title defense with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend, while four-time major winner Naomi Osaka beat Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
The fashion-conscious Osaka again caught the eye with a sequined gold playing dress.
Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, who made a surprise run to the semifinals last year when she was ranked 361st, lost 6-2, 6-2 to the 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya.
For a third consecutive day, the temperature in Paris was forecast to rise to at least 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit).
The unusually hot conditions made the courts faster than usual.
Daniil Medvedev usually thrives in such conditions but he struggled in a five-set loss to 97th-ranked Australian opponent Adam Walton.
Walton, who received a wild card invitation from tournament organizers, beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. It was Medvedev's second straight first round exit here and third in four years.
“I know why I don’t really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it’s (making) excuses,” he said. “So I keep it to myself.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up to Novak Djokovic, was leading 6-2, 3-0 against Alexandre Muller when his French opponent retired. Muller injured his right calf, three months after injuring his left calf.
Alexander Blockx withdrew from the tournament with a right ankle sprain, making Alex de Minaur — his scheduled second round opponent — the first player into the third round.
Later, top-ranked Jannik Sinner looks to extend his 29-match winning streak when he opens against French wild card Clement Tabur in the night session.
French teenager Moïse Kouamé made the perfect start to his French Open career with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.
The 17-year-old Kouamé won one day after 39-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils made his last appearance at Roland Garros.
The teenager raised his arms in triumph after defeating the 37-year-old Cilic, who won the 2014 U.S. Open, finished runner-up at two other majors, and reached the French Open semifinals in 2022.
The ATP Tour said No. 318-ranked Kouamé became the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.
In March, he became the youngest winner in Miami Masters history when he beat Zachary Svajda in the first round — earning a congratulatory message from Djokovic.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Spectators cover themselves from the sun with ab umbrella during the first round men's singles tennis match between Adam Walton of Australia and Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Naomi Osaka of Japan returns to Laura Siegemund of Germany during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates after winning against Taylor Townsend of the U.S. during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Daniil Medvedev of Russia reacts as he plays against Adam Walton of Australia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Alexandra Eala of Philippines returns to Iva Jovic of the U.S. during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Iva Jovic of the U.S. reacts as she plays against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Daniil Medvedev of Russia serves to Adam Walton of Australia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
