Norman Powell scored 23 points, James Harden had 19 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-89 on Thursday night.

Kawhi Leonard may have returned earlier this month, but on Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets, he made his true return to the basketball court. On Wednesday, Leonard put up 23 points, 2 rebounds,

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) tries to get around the defense of Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) AP AP

The 59-point win by the Clippers marked the largest in the franchise’s 55-year history, and the largest out of the 597 games played in the NBA this season. It was also the worst loss in the 58-year history of the Nets, a franchise that entered the NBA in 1976 and started in 1967 in the ABA.

So the Clippers were set to play six games over nine days, starting with their 126-67 beatdown of the Brooklyn Nets at the Intuit Dome, the largest margin of victory in franchise history. Kawhi Leonard played 23 minutes 49 seconds and scored 23 points, both season highs. He was eight for 11 from the field while leading the Clippers in scoring.

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points, James Harden added 21 and the Los Angeles Clippers had the largest margin of victory in franchise history, routing the Brooklyn Nets 126-67 on Wednesday night