The Clippers' star duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 56 points, leading Los Angeles to a convincing 126-113 road win over the New York Knicks. While Harden and Leonard were the big story of the night, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac also contributed significantly, scoring 19 and 18 points, respectively. Derrick Jones Jr. had a massive performance off the bench, adding 12 points.
final. pic.twitter.com/85Bo227NGe
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 27, 2025
UNO🤝DOS
Harden: 29 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST
Leonard: 27 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/cOMTbHlday
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 27, 2025
The Clippers' second unit provided a great spark, outscoring the Knicks' bench 24-12. The Knicks' bench contributions came mainly from Landry Shamet and Precious Achiuwa. Despite being on the second night of a back-to-back, the Knicks' starting five, including Cameron Payne, still managed to put up strong numbers. Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 34 points, while OG Anunoby added 28.
Injury crisis
Payne had to exit the game due to an ankle sprain, adding to the Knicks' injury woes. They were already shorthanded without Jalen Brunson (ankle) and Miles McBride (groin). Josh Hart spoke about the team's struggles with injuries, saying, "Injuries always suck, and for some reason we just keep getting smacked with them at the same position. We've got to piece it together and figure out a way to scratch out wins."
Head coach Tom Thibodeau gave an update on McBride’s injury, stating, "It's possible [he could play Friday]," when asked about McBride’s chances of playing against the Milwaukee Bucks on the road this Friday. With the injury crisis, Delon Wright and Tyler Kolek are expected to step up and see more minutes in the Knicks' guard rotation.
Harden history
On the Clippers' side, James Harden made history by becoming the oldest guard in NBA history to record a season with 1,500 or more points and 500 or more assists. The 35-year-old, along with a healthy version of Kawhi Leonard, could be a serious threat in the Western Conference as the Clippers aim to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a spot in the first round of the playoffs.
Los Angeles bounced back from a loss to Oklahoma City that had snapped their five-game winning streak. They will look to build on their momentum and earn a second consecutive win as they stay in New York to face the Nets this Friday.