Clippers Rally Past Mavs After Blowing Big Lead

Kawhi Leonard's 34 points lift LA to victory over Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:53pm

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A vibrant, expressionist painting using neon colors and rapid brushstrokes to capture the dynamic scoring and energy of Kawhi Leonard as he leads the Clippers to victory.Kawhi Leonard's scoring explosion lifts the Clippers to a thrilling comeback win over the Mavericks.Inglewood Today

Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, including 6 three-pointers, as the Los Angeles Clippers came back to beat the Dallas Mavericks 116-103 after blowing a 23-point lead. The Clippers were able to recover and secure the win despite the strong performance of Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.

Why it matters

This game showcased the Clippers' ability to bounce back from a major blown lead, demonstrating their resilience and the impact of Kawhi Leonard's scoring prowess. The matchup also highlighted the promising debut season of Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.

The details

The Clippers raced out to a 23-point lead in the first half, but the Mavericks fought back to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, Kawhi Leonard took over down the stretch, hitting several key three-pointers to lift the Clippers to the victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored 34 points in the game, including 6 three-pointers.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie playing for the Dallas Mavericks who had a strong performance in the game.

Los Angeles Clippers

The NBA team that came back to beat the Dallas Mavericks after blowing a 23-point lead.

Dallas Mavericks

The NBA team that fought back from a 23-point deficit to tie the game, but ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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What they’re saying

“We showed a lot of fight to come back from that big deficit, but Kawhi just took over in the end.”

— Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks Head Coach

What’s next

The Clippers will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their playoff push, while the Mavericks will aim to regroup and get back on track.

The takeaway

This game demonstrated the Clippers' ability to overcome adversity and the continued development of the Mavericks' young roster, led by the promising rookie Cooper Flagg.