Missing backup guard Lou Williams, who was sidelined for a second consecutive game because of a balky hip, and starting center Serge Ibaka because of an illness the team said was not related to COVID-19, the Clippers still had more in reserve than the equally short-handed Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 129-96 victory at Staples Center that improves them to 10-4, the league’s second-best record:
1. Kawhi Leonard’s strong third quarter Sunday wasn’t a one-off.
Indiana knew it had to contain Leonard and Paul George if it had any chance to win and they threw a bit of everything at them during the first half.