BISHA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Defending champion Carlos Sainz was nearly an hour off the pace in the Dakar Rally after his car flipped in the Saudi Arabia dunes on Sunday.
Local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi led the race at the mandatory evening rest stop north of Bisha on the nearly 1,000-kilometer second stage, which started early Sunday and finishes late Monday.
But his lead was only 79 seconds over five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Sainz was within five minutes of the leaders after more than 200 kilometers, but his Ford Raptor turned upside down in the dunes at 327 kilometers. Teammate Mitch Guthrie helped Sainz right the car after 20 minutes but broken rear parts were left behind and Sainz limped to the rest area at 620 kilometers, more than 59 minutes behind.
Another title contender who suffered was Sebastien Loeb, who won this stage last year. The Frenchman broke down with fan issues at 409 kilometers and arrived more than 32 minutes back.
Al-Attiyah led Al Rajhi by four minutes in the early going but Al Rajhi turned the tables about 350 kilometers in and held on.
Sweden's Mattias Ekstrom was running third, nine minutes back. He was the only driver within 10 minutes of Al Rajhi.
First stage winner Seth Quintero was 48 minutes back.
Australian rider Daniel Sanders continued to set the pace in the motorbike class, even after starting at the back from winning the first stage.
Racing a different course to the cars, Sanders was only 40 seconds ahead of American titleholder Ricky Brabec.
Ross Branch, second last year, lost some time but was still third.
The 48-hour chrono stage was introduced last year, sending racers into the desert overnight with minimal team help. What organizers call “the quintessential rally-raid experience” was the stage in which Al Rajhi's car somersaulted and he was forced to abandon the 2024 race.
The stage resumes at dawn on Monday.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during the stage two, day One, of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Goncalo Gurreiro and co-driver Cadu Sachs remove their car blocked in the sand during the stage two, day One, of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Two men take pictures of Driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin during the stage two, day One, of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during the stage two, day One, of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who won for the fourth time in five games and 12th in 15 games. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 16 points.
Jose Alvarado had 17 points and 10 assists for the Pelicans, who are 3-7 in their last 10. Bruce Bowen added 16 points and Yves Missi grabbed 12 rebounds.
Los Angeles led 59-47 at halftime, paced by Leonard's 18 points.
The Clippers outscored the Pelicans by four points over the final two quarters, with Bogdanovic scoring a team-high 12 second-half points.
Pelicans: New Orleans shut down forward Zion Williamson (back) and guard CJ McCollum (right foot) for the season on Monday and the Pelicans continue to struggle down the stretch.
Clippers: Los Angeles stayed hot at home coming off a 3-1 road trip during which the Clippers' only loss came to Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland.
The Clippers took the lead at 12-10 on a layup by Harden with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed again.
The Clippers outscored the Pelicans by 27 points on 3-pointers, making 13 compared to just four for the Pelicans. New Orleans shot 4 for 22 from 3-point range.
Pelicans: Stay in Southern California to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Clippers: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) drives the ball while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center, drives the ball while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans center Mo Bamba, right, and New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) drives the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
New Orleans Pelicans center Mo Bamba (4) controls the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guards James Harden, left, and Bogdan Bogdanovic try to gain possession of the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Jamal Cain during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic (17) goes up for a rebound over Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) looks to pass while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Kelly Olynyk, right, and New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) shoots while under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Bruce Brown, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
