LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� came to the bench with a message for his Los Angeles Clippers teammates.
鈥淭old the guys, 鈥楲et鈥檚 get out and run, let's play faster,'鈥� coach Tyronn Lue said.
Behind 26 points from Paul George and Leonard's season highs of 25 points and nine rebounds, the Clippers routed the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 113-93 on Monday night.
鈥淲hen your two best players come back, that's a lot of energy,鈥� Lue said.
The Clippers' defense held the Celtics under 100 points for the first time this season.
鈥淲e did a great job pretty much across the whole board,鈥� George said.
Leonard also had six assists in his best all-around game of a young season that has been interrupted at times while he eases his way back from ACL surgery that cost him all of last season.
鈥淥nly my ninth game,鈥� Leonard said. 鈥淵ou can't rush it. Yeah, just got to keep moving.鈥�
George has been hurt, too, although unlike Leonard, he's no longer under a minutes restriction.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still trying to figure out how we鈥檙e going to play on the court with one another,鈥� George said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just good if both of us are playing aggressive.鈥�
Jaylen Brown scored 21 points to lead the Celtics, who dropped two in a row for only the second time this season. They had won eight of 10, including a loss at Golden State on Saturday. added 20 points 鈥� well below his 30-point average 鈥� and 11 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon had 18 points off the bench.
鈥淲e made a conscious effort to make sure Tatum and Brown played in a crowd all night,鈥� Lue said.
Having the Celtics and their 21-7 record in town drew one of the Clippers' biggest crowds of the season and created a playoff-like atmosphere. Boston fans showed out in the same colored gear as Marcus Smart's green-hued hair.
But the Clippers made most of the noise.
Coming off a 2-2 East Coast trip, Los Angeles used a few big runs and solid defense to control the first half and take a 56-47 lead at the break.
Leonard and George came out shooting to start the third. They each hit a 3-pointer while combining for 13 straight points that extended the lead to 69-55. came off the bench and keyed a 7-0 run late, hitting a 3 before put the Clippers ahead 88-72 going into the fourth.
George and Leonard combined for seven straight points in the fourth and Kennard kept hitting, too, pushing the Clippers' lead to 104-80.
鈥淗ow he played was huge, just seeing him get his rhythm back,鈥� Lue said of Leonard. 鈥淭he last couple games just playing with more pace. He's been feeling good.鈥�
The biggest roar came when Smart missed a pair of free throws, ensuring fans free chicken sandwiches. Smart finished with three points and five fouls.
George and Leonard were part of the Clippers' 17-8 spurt in the second. as part of a 20-3 burst in the first.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Al Horford (personal reasons) is expected to rejoin the team when it returns home this weekend. ... Former Clipper Blake Griffin started in Horford's place. He picked up a technical foul in the second quarter for grabbing the net.
Clippers: Norman Powell (left groin strain) is progressing well in individual workouts, but there's no timetable for his return. ... Ivica Zubac was a game-time decision to start after experiencing right groin soreness in Saturday's game. He had four points, three rebounds and five fouls in 17 minutes.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the second game of a back-to-back on Boston's second-longest road trip of the season.
Clippers: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in the second of five straight home games.
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Beth Harris, The Associated Press
