Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2)
The Los Angeles Clippers evened their season series with the Los Angeles Lakers at 1-1 on Saturday night with a 103-88 win at Intuit Dome. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 32 points and 12 rebounds, while James Harden added 21 points and 10 assists. John Collins chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers controlled the game from start to finish and snapped a five-game losing streak.
The Lakers struggled offensively, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from three-point range. LeBron James finished with a season-high 36 points, but Los Angeles was further shorthanded after Luka Doncic exited with a left leg contusion and did not return.
While the on-court result was a positive for the Clippers, an off-court development has emerged that could carry financial implications for the franchise.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
On Sunday, Sport Business Journal revealed that Main Street Sports Group, which owns the FanDuel Sports Network regional sports channels, is currently negotiating a potential sale to the DAZN Group, with a deal expected to be finalized by January if talks progress.
If the sale goes through, local media rights for NBA, NHL, and MLB teams carried by Main Street would remain intact. However, if negotiations fall apart, Main Street could face renewed financial strain, raising concerns about its ability to maintain existing league partnerships and media obligations.
Should Main Street ultimately sever ties with the NBA and its related properties, the Clippers would stand to lose their agreed-upon local media rights payment. The Clippers’ NBA rights fee with Main Street Sports is valued at approximately $34.59 million annually, a significant portion of the franchise’s local revenue structure.
While it remains unclear whether the negotiations will ultimately progress, the situation is expected to be closely monitored as the Clippers enter the new year. On the court, Los Angeles will look to build on Saturday’s win when it hosts the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.