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![Clippers guard Reggie Jackson argues a foul call against him...]()
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson argues a foul call against him during the second half of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams dunks during the first half...]()
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams dunks during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, center, holds off Clippers guard...]()
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, center, holds off Clippers guard Luke Kennard, right, during the first half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue yells to his players during...]()
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue yells to his players during the first half of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, right, defends Clippers guard Paul...]()
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, right, defends Clippers guard Paul George as he handles the ball during the first half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan goes up for a layup...]()
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan goes up for a layup during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers guard Paul George, right, slaps the ball away from...]()
Clippers guard Paul George, right, slaps the ball away from Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan during the first half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, right, gets fouled by Clippers...]()
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, right, gets fouled by Clippers forward Norman Powell, center, during the first half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers guards Terance Mann, left, and Luke Kennard, right, defend...]()
Clippers guards Terance Mann, left, and Luke Kennard, right, defend Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu during the first half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, gets fouled by Chicago Bulls...]()
Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, gets fouled by Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the second half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, center, bounces the ball off the...]()
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, center, bounces the ball off the rim as he tries to dunk during the second half of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers forward Norman Powell shows his frustration after a foul...]()
Clippers forward Norman Powell shows his frustration after a foul is called on him during the second half of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan dunks during the second half...]()
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan dunks during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks the ball during the second...]()
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks the ball during the second half of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago. Leonard had 33 points, five assists and five steals in a 108-103 win. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan argues a foul called on...]()
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan argues a foul called on him that was challenged but ultimately assigned to teammate Alex Caruso during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan argues a foul called on...]()
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan argues a foul called on him that was challenged but ultimately assigned to teammate Alex Caruso during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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![Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, right, talks to Clippers guard...]()
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, right, talks to Clippers guard Terance Mann about a foul called on Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan that was challenged but ultimately assigned to Caruso during the second half on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
CHICAGO — The Clippers spent the entire fourth quarter trying to shake the Bulls, but they couldn’t secure a victory until Kawhi Leonard delivered in the clutch again.
Leonard scored 33 points and produced a key steal and the game-clinching free throws in the waning seconds to help the Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls, 108-103, on Tuesday night.
Norman Powell had 27 points, and Paul George added 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers, who have won six of seven games.
The Clippers led 85-84 after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth but Chicago stayed within striking distance until the end. With the Clippers ahead 106-103, Leonard stole the ball from Zach LaVine and made both free throws with 5.2 seconds left to shut the door.
“That’s the reason we’ve been winning, because our defense has picked it up and carried us,” George said. “I think we caught our rhythm because of our defense and were able to stay in the game.”
The Clippers (29-25) had 15 steals as they forced 20 turnovers overall by Chicago (23-27), two off of the Bulls’ worst mark of the season.
Powell, meanwhile, came off the bench to outscore the Bulls’ reserves by himself, 27-20.
“He’s instant offense,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “Just come in the game and he can get it going quick. He was huge for us tonight.”
Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bulls, who dropped the opener of their four-game homestand. DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and LaVine finished with 18 points and 14 boards.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 19 points midway through the second quarter but went to halftime down just 58-54 thanks to a 16-2 run in the final minutes.
“No matter how you lose, it sucks. Period,” DeRozan said. “A team like that, veteran guys, extremely well-coached, they’re not going to give up.”
Ivaca Zubac finished with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Clippers. Leonard finished 11 for 24 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 8 for 9 from the free-throw line to go with five assists, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks. Powell finished 7 for 11 from the field (3 for 7 from behind the arc) and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts.
DeRozan had a career-worst eight turnovers.
“Careless,” the former Compton High and USC star said. “It’s entirely too much and we can’t let that happen.”
TIP-INS
Clippers: George and Leonard returned after both were held out of Sunday’s loss in Cleveland with knee soreness.
Bulls: LaVine drew a foul at the top of the key from Powell with 1:03 left but missed the first two of three free throws to keep the Bulls behind, 104-103.
UP NEXT
The Clippers play the fourth game of their six-game road swing on Thursday night at Milwaukee.
33 PTS
4 REB
5 AST
5 STL
2 BLKKawhi got it done on both ends in the Clippers W. pic.twitter.com/3j5nKTlcSC
— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2023
Kawhi Leonard finishes with 33 points and shares his thoughts on the game with @jaimemaggio 🎤@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/eruLoLBpjC
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) February 1, 2023
Ty Lue shares his thoughts with the media following the W in Chicago🎙@LAClippers | #ClippersLive pic.twitter.com/fH288c3Tbd
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) February 1, 2023
