Kings Beat Clippers 118-109 as Kawhi Leonard Suffers Ankle Injury

Russell Westbrook records triple-double as Sacramento hands Los Angeles its first home loss in six games

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:42am

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The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 118-109 on Saturday night, led by Russell Westbrook's triple-double and DeMar DeRozan's 27 points. The Clippers lost star forward Kawhi Leonard to a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter, ending his streak of 45 consecutive games with at least 20 points.

Why it matters

This game had major implications for the Western Conference playoff race, as the Kings and Clippers are both jockeying for position. The injury to Leonard could be a significant blow to the Clippers if he misses extended time, as he has been a driving force behind their recent success.

The details

Westbrook recorded his 209th career triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. DeRozan led the Kings in scoring with 27 points. For the Clippers, Leonard had 31 points before exiting with the ankle injury, while Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 25 points in the losing effort. The Kings led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter before the Clippers mounted a late comeback, but Sacramento was able to hold on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • Kawhi Leonard suffered his ankle injury with 9:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The players

Russell Westbrook

A veteran point guard for the Sacramento Kings who recorded his 209th career triple-double in the game.

DeMar DeRozan

The leading scorer for the Kings, pouring in 27 points in the victory.

Kawhi Leonard

The star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, who scored 31 points before exiting with a sprained left ankle.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Clippers will need to evaluate the severity of Kawhi Leonard's ankle injury and determine if he will miss any upcoming games.

The takeaway

This game showcased the depth and talent of the Kings, who were able to withstand a late Clippers comeback and hand Los Angeles its first home loss in six games. The injury to Kawhi Leonard is a concern for the Clippers, who will need their star player healthy if they hope to make a deep playoff run.