Clippers' Kawhi Leonard-Darius Garland duo looks promising

The star forward and his new point guard are developing the kind of chemistry that could be make them a formidable duo while the Clippers look to build momentum in their final 18 regular-season games.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Darius Garland's transition to the Clippers has been smooth as he plays alongside Kawhi Leonard. The two are developing chemistry that could make them a formidable duo for the Clippers in their final 18 regular-season games. Garland is averaging 17 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his first four games with the team, complementing Leonard's team-high 27.9 points per game.

Why it matters

The Clippers are looking to move beyond the .500 mark and build momentum heading into the playoffs. The Leonard-Garland duo could be a key factor in the team's success down the stretch, as opponents will have to decide whether to focus on stopping Leonard or leaving Garland open for 3-pointers.

The details

Garland arrived in L.A. six weeks ago in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving the Clippers a complementary piece to Leonard. Garland's anticipated debut was delayed a month due to toe issues, but he has quickly found his footing in Coach Tyronn Lue's offense, starting alongside Leonard. The two are developing chemistry that could make them a tough matchup for opponents, who will have to decide whether to focus on stopping Leonard or leaving Garland open for 3-pointers.

  • Garland arrived in L.A. six weeks ago.
  • Garland's anticipated debut was delayed a month while dealing with toe issues.
  • Garland has started the last two games and played in four games overall.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A seven-time All-Star forward for the Clippers who is averaging a team-high 27.9 points per game on 49.8% shooting, along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals.

Darius Garland

The Clippers' new point guard, acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who is averaging 17 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his first four games with the team.

Tyronn Lue

The Clippers' head coach who is navigating a delicate balance of managing the minutes of Leonard and Garland as the team looks to build momentum in the final 18 regular-season games.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah. I mean, I let Kawhi be Kawhi, bro. I mean, it's pretty easy. If you have a mismatch where you like somebody he likes, I'm just going to throw him the ball and just get out his way.”

— Darius Garland, Clippers point guard (ocregister.com)

“He's an All-Star player. I've been saying that he could see the floor very well, a great point guard who can shoot the ball, (he's) very crafty with his handle and can finish it at the rim. I know what type of player he was coming in and he's proven himself and he's only going to get better.”

— Kawhi Leonard (ocregister.com)

What’s next

The Clippers (32-32) will be looking to move beyond the .500 mark on Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24 through Monday) at the Intuit Dome.

The takeaway

The development of the Leonard-Garland duo could be a key factor in the Clippers' success down the stretch as they look to build momentum heading into the playoffs. Their complementary skills and growing chemistry make them a formidable duo that could pose problems for opposing teams.