Clippers Aim to Extend Winning Streak Against Struggling Kings

Kawhi Leonard leads Los Angeles' late-season playoff push as Sacramento continues to sink in the standings.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:25pm

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The Los Angeles Clippers, riding a four-game winning streak and a 28-11 record since December, will face the struggling Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Led by Kawhi Leonard's impressive scoring run, the Clippers are eyeing playoff positioning, particularly in the Pacific Division, where they have just three games remaining. In contrast, the Kings have fallen on hard times, going 4-21 since mid-January and sitting just one game ahead of the NBA-worst Indiana Pacers.

Why it matters

This matchup is crucial for the Clippers as they look to solidify their playoff positioning in the Western Conference. A win over the Kings would improve their Pacific Division record, which is an important tiebreaker for postseason seeding. Meanwhile, the Kings' continued struggles highlight their rebuilding efforts and the challenges they face in the competitive NBA landscape.

The details

The Clippers are coming off a 119-108 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday, their fourth consecutive win and fifth straight at home. Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge, matching a franchise record with 44 consecutive games of at least 20 points. The Clippers will be without trade-deadline addition Darius Garland (toe) but expect him to return against the Kings. The Kings, on the other hand, are reeling, having lost 21 of their last 25 games. DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points in their most recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets, moving him past Tim Duncan into 18th place on the all-time scoring list.

  • The Clippers will be playing the second night of a back-to-back on Saturday after their win over the Bulls on Friday.
  • The Kings are coming off a 117-109 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star player who has led the team's late-season surge, matching a franchise record with 44 consecutive games of at least 20 points.

DeMar DeRozan

The Kings' veteran guard who scored 39 points in their most recent loss, moving him past Tim Duncan into 18th place on the all-time scoring list.

Tyronn Lue

The Clippers' head coach who has praised Leonard's leadership and effort in guiding the team through a slow start to the season.

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What they’re saying

“He's a winner. He could have easily laid down on us this season, starting 6-21, but he came back with even more fight.”

— Tyronn Lue, Clippers Head Coach

“I don't take anything in this game for granted. I never would have imagined coming into this league and playing this long.”

— DeMar DeRozan

What’s next

The Clippers will look to improve their Pacific Division record and solidify their playoff positioning, while the Kings will aim to end their recent skid and build momentum for the future.

The takeaway

This matchup highlights the contrasting fortunes of the Clippers and Kings this season. The Clippers' late-season surge, led by Kawhi Leonard's impressive scoring run, has them in the playoff hunt, while the Kings' continued struggles underscore the challenges they face in rebuilding their team.