Clippers Rally Past Grizzlies in Tight Matchup

Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland lead Clippers to 123-120 victory over short-handed Grizzlies

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Los Angeles Clippers overcame an early 19-point deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-120 on Saturday night. Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 28 points, while Darius Garland added 21 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Clippers' comeback. The Grizzlies were without several key players due to injuries, including star guard Ja Morant, but got strong performances from Ty Jerome (23 points, 7 assists) and Taylor Hendricks (18 points).

Why it matters

The win was an important one for the Clippers, who are fighting to stay in the playoff race in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the short-handed Grizzlies have struggled with injuries all season, raising questions about their ability to maintain their position in the standings.

The details

The Clippers trailed by as many as 19 points early on but chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to one point at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Darius Garland scored 11 of his 21 points to help the Clippers take the lead late and hold on for the victory. Despite only making 4 three-pointers, the Clippers got strong performances from Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Derrick Jones Jr. to overcome the Grizzlies.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who scored a team-high 28 points in the victory.

Darius Garland

The Clippers' starting point guard who scored 21 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to help lead the comeback.

Ty Jerome

The Grizzlies' starting point guard who led the team with 23 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Ja Morant

The Grizzlies' star guard who missed his 20th game due to a left elbow UCL sprain.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to fight and find ways to win, even when we're not at our best. This was a gutsy performance by our team.”

— Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Times)

“Injuries have been tough on us all season, but we have to find a way to overcome that and keep competing. I'm proud of the effort our guys gave tonight.”

— Taylor Hendricks, Grizzlies Forward (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Clippers will next face the New York Knicks at Intuit Dome on Monday, March 10, 2026, as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies will look to end their three-game losing streak in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the resilience of the Clippers, who were able to overcome a large early deficit and get a crucial road win against a short-handed Grizzlies team. The Clippers' ability to grind out victories despite not playing their best basketball could be a key factor in their playoff push, while the Grizzlies' injury troubles continue to be a concern as they try to maintain their position in the standings.