Clippers edge Knicks in close battle

Los Angeles rallies late to defeat New York in cross-conference matchup

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the New York Knicks 123-120 in a close cross-conference matchup. The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard's 28 points, overcame a late push from the Knicks to earn the victory at home. Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin also had strong performances for the Clippers, scoring 21 and 16 points respectively.

Why it matters

This win helps the Clippers continue their climb back to .500 on the season, while the Knicks missed an opportunity to sweep the season series against Los Angeles. The game featured strong individual performances and showcased the depth of both rosters as they jockey for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.

The details

The Clippers were able to overcome a balanced scoring effort from the Knicks, led by 25 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and 24 from Jalen Brunson. The Knicks struggled to contain Kawhi Leonard, who was efficient from the field and also contributed 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Darius Garland provided a spark off the bench for the Clippers, scoring 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

  • The Knicks and Clippers previously met on January 7th, with the Knicks winning 123-111 at Madison Square Garden.
  • This was the second and final regular season matchup between the two teams.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward scored a game-high 28 points and added 7 rebounds and 5 assists to lead Los Angeles to the victory.

Darius Garland

The newly acquired Clippers guard scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to help Los Angeles rally late.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' leading scorer had 24 points but couldn't quite lead New York to the win in this cross-conference matchup.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks' star center had a team-high 25 points but it wasn't enough to overcome the Clippers' late surge.

Bennedict Mathurin

The Clippers' rookie guard added 16 points off the bench to provide a scoring boost for Los Angeles.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a really good Knicks team, but our guys stepped up when it mattered most. Kawhi was dominant, Darius hit some big shots, and the whole team played with a lot of energy and effort.”

— Tyronn Lue, Clippers Head Coach (Clippers.com)

“We had our chances, but the Clippers made the plays down the stretch to get the win. Hats off to them, they're a tough team and we'll learn from this experience.”

— Tom Thibodeau, Knicks Head Coach (Knicks.com)

What’s next

The Knicks will look to bounce back on Friday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Clippers will try to build on this win when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

The takeaway

This close battle between two playoff contenders showcased the depth and talent on both rosters. The Clippers' late-game execution and contributions from their supporting cast proved to be the difference, as they continue to fight their way back to .500 on the season.