Legal right to a number of points (4)

I believe the answer is:

lien

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'legal right' is the definition.
(type of property right)

'number of points' is the wordplay.
'number of' becomes 'li' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'points' becomes 'en' (two compass points).
'li'+'en'='LIEN'

'to a' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lien that I've seen before include "Legal right over the Nile" , "The right to take property if an obligation is not discharged" , "Sequestration order" , "Legal right to detain property" , "Legal claim on the property of another" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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