Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, while Benedict Mathurin added 28 off the bench to give the Clippers a 126-118 victory over the New York Knicks. Leonard scored 20+ points for the 42nd consecutive game, the second-longest active streak behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Los Angeles has now won five of their last six since March 1st, getting it right back in the play-in tournament race in the West.
New York was on the second night of a back-to-back after falling to the Lakers last night and made it 0-2 during their trip to Los Angeles with the defeat. A +11 turnover margin for the Clippers was the game changer, as an efficient night on offense wasn’t enough to overcome the Knicks’ defensive shortcomings.
Final Score and Team Stats
| Team | Points | FG% | Three-Point % | Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
| New York Knicks | 118 | 51% | 35% | 51 | 32 | 19 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 126 | 46% | 46% | 36 | 25 | 8 |
New York Knicks Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PT | +/- | Minutes |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 35 | 12 | 7 | 3/4 | -12 | 36 |
| Jalen Brunson | 28 | 4 | 8 | 2/3 | +1 | 38 |
| OG Anunoby | 22 | 6 | 2 | 3/4 | -3 | 37 |
| Josh Hart | 12 | 13 | 3 | 1/3 | -13 | 36 |
| Landry Shamet | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3/12 | -1 | 23 |
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for New York, pouring in 35 points after starting the game 3/3 from behind the arc. Towns was able to dominate all three levels of the offensive end, but still finished with a -12 point differential after some poor defensive plays.
Brunson had a solid night as usual, with 28 points, while Josh Hart logged a double-double after getting after it on the glass. Landry Shamet was ineffective off the bench, missing nine three-point attempts, as the Knicks’ shallow rotation and tired legs prevented them from mounting a comeback.
Los Angeles Clippers Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PT | +/- | Minutes |
| Kawhi Leonard | 29 | 7 | 8 | 2/5 | +26 | 35 |
| Benedict Mathurin | 28 | 7 | 1 | 1/4 | +5 | 36 |
| Darius Garland | 23 | 1 | 7 | 5/9 | +20 | 30 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 16 | 7 | 2 | 4/7 | +1 | 34 |
| Brook Lopez | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3/5 | +23 | 30 |
The Los Angeles Clippers have started to find their rhythm on the back of explosive offensive showings, which has become a notable storyline in sports news. Kawhi Leonard is one of the best two-way players in the league, and his dominance was on full display with a team-high 29 points and a game-high +26 point differential.
Benedict Mathurin continues to be a spark off the bench, as his 28 points fueled the Clippers in the second quarter. Derrick Jones Jr. also had a big game, as he was efficient from behind the arc and tacked on 3 steals and 2 blocks to make a real impact on the defensive end.
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Key Player Matchup: Kawhi Leonard vs Jalen Brunson
Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Brunson are two of the best players in the league, and they put on quite the show at the Intuit Dome last night in the kind of matchup that can swing an NBA prediction. Leonard was effective on both ends of the court, logging two steals and being a general menace on defense.
While Brunson was able to match Leonard’s offensive contributions, he was hiding behind Kris Dunn in the clutch to avoid being exposed on defense. When the Clippers rotated Brunson off of Dunn, they immediately found offensive success. against New York’s leading scorer.
Brunson’s ability to create his own shot is unlike anyone else in the league, and he also played facilitator with 8 assists. However, a costly missed free throw in the fourth hurt New York, while Leonard went a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe in the victory.
Brunson is usually able to offset his defensive shortcomings with stunning offensive play, but when a two-way star like Leonard is on the other side, Brunson’s defense, or lack thereof, becomes a real concern.
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Game-Changing Moments
The New York Knicks’ largest lead was a single point in the first quarter, as the Clippers nearly went wire-to-wire in the win. Los Angeles took a 9-point lead into halftime and led for the majority of the first half after sinking their first four three-point shots.
As the break approached, Kawhi Leonard took over for the Clippers, scoring the final ten points for the team before the half.
In the second half, the Knicks cut the 15-point deficit down to two possessions on multiple occasions, and the Los Angeles crowd started to shift in favor of New York. They kept it close in the final five minutes but were never able to get it within a single possession after costly turnovers stopped their momentum.
New York turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 24 points for Los Angeles in the defeat and proving decisive beyond the NBA odds and lines. Just as the Knicks started to build momentum, such as the six straight points from Brunson to close the third, they would get sloppy on offense and allow the Clippers to respond.
A block from Derrick Jones Jr., which led to a three-point make from him with less than two minutes to go, stretched the lead to 118-109 as the Clippers held on for the crucial victory.
What This Means Moving Forward
The Los Angeles Clippers were sellers at the trade deadline, sending Ivica Zubac and James Harden elsewhere for draft capital and future stars. However, their plan to tank has been foiled by their recent hot streak, as new arrivals Darius Garland and Benedict Mathurin have instantly gelled with Leonard.
Their 32-32 record has them sitting in 8th place in the West, as they are primed for a play-in tournament spot at the very least. Five wins in the last six will always allow them to claw back ground, and they have a pair of winnable matchups against the Bulls and Kings scheduled for this weekend.
The Knicks lost ground in the race for a top seed in the East with their second straight defeat. New York looks as though they will have to settle for the third seed or lower, as they are now three games back of Boston and five and a half back of the Pistons.
Road games against the Lakers and Clippers are always tough games, but things are about to get a lot easier for New York. Their next eight games are against teams with .500 records or lower, including six games against the bottom six teams in the league. They will have a great opportunity to get back on track, as the playoffs are now one month away from tipping off.
FAQ Section
Who scored the most points in Knicks vs. Clippers tonight?
Karl-Anthony Towns scored the most points in Knicks vs. Clippers, as the Dominican native poured in 35 points while shooting a very efficient 13-for-17 from the floor.
Did Karl-Anthony Towns foul out against the Clippers?
Yes, Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out in the Knicks’ defeat to Los Angeles. He got into late foul trouble and picked up his sixth infraction with six seconds remaining. He still racked up 35 minutes of action and was the most effective player for the Knicks last night.
How many threes did Darius Garland make?
Darius Garland had an efficient night from three-point range, sinking five threes on nine attempts against the New York Knicks. He has made an immediate impact with his new franchise, consistently scoring and facilitating on the offensive end.
What was the final score of Knicks vs. Clippers?
The final score of the Knicks vs. Clippers was 126-118, with the Los Angeles Clippers securing the victory.
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