Clippers Eyeing Deep Playoff Run After Historic Turnaround

LA has surged into playoff position with a dominant second half of the season.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:34pm

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The Los Angeles Clippers have engineered a remarkable turnaround, going from 15 games below .500 to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. With an easy remaining schedule and the return of star Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are now seen as a potential dark horse to make a deep playoff run.

Why it matters

The Clippers' stunning resurgence has revived their playoff hopes after a dismal start to the season, and they now have a realistic path to reaching the Conference Finals if they can avoid a tough first-round matchup.

The details

Over their last 38 games, the Clippers have the second-best record in the NBA at 27-11, with the second-best offensive rating and eighth-best defensive rating in that span. They have an incredibly easy remaining schedule, with only four of their final 17 games against playoff teams. If the Clippers can win 13 of those games, they would finish with 46 wins and likely secure the 8th seed, setting up a play-in game against the Suns that they would be favored to win.

  • The Clippers have gone 27-11 over their last 38 games.
  • The Clippers have only 4 games left against playoff teams in their remaining 17 games.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star player who has been playing at a high level, helping to lead the team's turnaround.

Darius Garland

The Clippers' young point guard who has been playing himself into shape and contributing to the team's success.

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What’s next

If the Clippers can secure the 8th seed, they would face the Suns in a play-in game, which they would be favored to win. This would set up a potentially favorable playoff run, avoiding the top-seeded Thunder until the Conference Finals.

The takeaway

The Clippers' remarkable turnaround has revived their playoff hopes and made them a potential dark horse to reach the Conference Finals, especially if they can avoid a tough first-round matchup. Their easy remaining schedule and the return of Kawhi Leonard have them dreaming of a deep postseason run.