Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers back to .500 against Knicks
Mar 9, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) loses the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The LA Clippers hit a symbolic milestone Monday night, defeating the New York Knicks 126–118 at the Intuit Dome. The win brings the California franchise back to an even record (32–32) for the first time since early November.
Kawhi Leonard once again led the Clippers offensively with 29 points, extending his impressive run to 42 straight games with at least 20 points. The streak now ranks as the second-longest active run in the NBA and the third-longest in franchise history.
HELLO!!!
KAWHI LEONARD IS ON ONE!!! HE’S GOT 21 AT HALF!!! pic.twitter.com/oO4Adaa8vG
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 10, 2026
Mathurin decisive off the bench
Bennedict Mathurin was particularly effective in the second half, scoring 22 of his 28 points after the break. The guard provided the necessary spark off the bench, alongside Darius Garland (23 points, 7 assists) in his second start.
On the Knicks’ side, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a remarkable performance with 35 points on 13/17 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists before being ejected for fouls in the final seconds. Jalen Brunson (28 points) and OG Anunoby (22 points) also contributed to New York’s offensive effort.
A controlled finish by the Clippers
Despite the vocal support of their fans present in Inglewood, the Knicks were unable to turn the tide. After cutting a 15-point deficit to just 7 points (88-81) before the final quarter thanks to six consecutive points from Brunson, New York got within five points three times in the final four minutes.
The Clippers kept their composure in crunch time, relying on a three-point play by Mathurin and a three-pointer by Derrick Jones Jr. to seal their fifth win in six games since the start of March. This positive momentum allows Los Angeles to improve its position heading into the NBA Play-in Tournament, after a catastrophic start to the season (6-21).
This defeat marks the third loss in four games for the Knicks, third in the Eastern Conference, who haven’t beaten the Clippers in Los Angeles since 2022.
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