Bogdanovic scores 30, Zubac adds 26 and Clippers roll past Heat 119-104

MIAMI (AP) — Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 30 points and Ivica Zubac added 26 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Miami Heat 119-104 on Wednesday night.

James Harden had 24 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who won for the fourth time in five games and pulled within 1 1/2 games of idle Golden State for the No. 6 — and last guaranteed — playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Tyler Herro scored 31 points and Andrew Wiggins added 22 for the Heat, who fell 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the race for the No. 7 spot and most advantageous play-in position in the Eastern Conference.

The Clippers were again without coach Tyronn Lue, who has missed three straight games while dealing with back pain. Assistant coach Brian Shaw again served as acting coach.

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard didn't play on the second night of a back-to-back, so he couldn't add to his success against the Heat. When Leonard plays — for San Antonio, Toronto or the Clippers — his teams have won 15 consecutive regular-season games against Miami. The last time he played in a loss against the Heat, excluding the NBA Finals, was 2013.

Heat: Miami — now 9-19 in its last 28 games — has dropped a season-high five consecutive contests. This is only the fourth losing streak of at least five games for Miami in the last seven years.

A 13-4 run over a three-minute span of the fourth quarter pushed the Clippers' lead from eight to 17.

Zubac has 10 consecutive double-doubles. He’s the sixth player to do that this season, joining Domantas Sabonis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

Both teams play Friday. The Clippers visit Atlanta and Miami hosts Boston.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) drives to the basket as LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) aims to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LA Clippers associate head coach Brian Shaw gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) aims a three-point basket as LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) is cheered after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) and Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10), center Ivica Zubac (40) and center Kel'el Ware (7) go after a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) defends Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) defends Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Quarterback Mac Jones will finally join the San Francisco 49ers four years after the team nearly drafted him third overall.

Jones agreed to a two-year deal worth $7 million with $5 million guaranteed to join the Niners, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced, said it had a maximum value of $11.5 million.

NFL Network first reported the contract.

Jones and San Francisco were closely linked leading up to the 2021 draft after the Niners traded three first-round picks to get the No. 3 overall selection. Coach Kyle Shanahan was looking to draft a franchise quarterback and was debating between Jones and Trey Lance before San Francisco finally opted for Lance.

The move backfired as Lance struggled to stay healthy and adjust to Shanahan’s system. He made only four starts in two seasons before being traded to Dallas for a fourth-round pick in August 2023, having lost the starting job to 2022 seventh-round pick Brock Purdy.

Purdy has firmly established himself as the full-time starter in San Francisco and now Jones gets the chance to come in as a backup.

Jones had a fast start to his career, helping New England make the playoffs in his rookie season. But Jones regressed the next year after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left, and he was replaced as the starter in 2023.

He was traded to Jacksonville last March and started seven games for the Jaguars, throwing eight TD passes and eight interceptions.

Jones has made 49 career starts, posting an 84.9 passer rating with 54 TD passes, 44 interceptions and averaging 6.7 yards per attempt.

The Niners were looking for a backup to Purdy after Joshua Dobbs left in free agency to join New England. Brandon Allen is also a free agent.

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack,File)