Lopez the key man in Clippers' run: Harden

The resurgent Los Angeles Clippers take a shot at a fifth consecutive lopsided National Basketball Association (NBA) win when they host the Sacramento Kings on Dec 30 (Dec 31, Singapore time).

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The Clippers, who won just six of their first 27 games of the season, have rolled off four victories - all by at least 13 points - in nine days.

The closest of the bunch came on Dec 28 against Eastern Conference leaders the Detroit Pistons, as the Clippers claimed a 112-99 triumph that tipped off a five-game homestand.

Several players have excelled in that run, especially Kawhi Leonard, who had a career-high 55 points in the win over the Pistons. James Harden also averaged 28 points over the stretch.

John Collins chipped in with a double-double against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec 20, Kobe Sanders buried three straight three-pointers off the bench against the Houston Rockets three days later, before Nicolas Batum responded to a start with 12 points against Detroit.

But, according to Harden, it has been Brook Lopez who has taken the Clippers to a new level.