INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard delivered another dominant performance, scoring 29 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 126–118 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night, pushing the team back to a .500 record for the first time since early November.
With the win, the Clippers improved to 32–32 and continued their strong March run, winning five of their first six games this month as they try to strengthen their position in the NBA Play-In Tournament race. The turnaround comes after Los Angeles struggled early in the season, starting with a disappointing 6–21 record.
Leonard extended his remarkable scoring consistency, recording his 42nd straight game with at least 20 points. The streak is currently the second-longest active run in the NBA and ranks third in franchise history.
Bennedict Mathurin provided a huge boost off the bench with 28 points, including 22 in the second half, while Darius Garland added 23 points and seven assists in his second start. The Clippers had five players finish in double figures in a balanced offensive effort.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with an impressive 35 points on 13-of-17 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out late in the game. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, and OG Anunoby added 22 for New York.
The Knicks cut the deficit to seven entering the fourth quarter after a late third-quarter run, but the Clippers held their ground in the closing minutes. A three-point play by Mathurin and a clutch three-pointer from Derrick Jones Jr. helped seal the victory for Los Angeles.
New York has now lost three of its last four games and has not beaten the Clippers in Los Angeles since 2022.
