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A new report suggests the Sacramento Kings or Los Angeles Clippers could take a risk with their top 10 selection in June and go after a star from national champion Michigan. But this is not Yaxel Lendeborg.

Over the weekend, both the Kings and Clippers found out where they will select in next month’s NBA Draft. The results were very different for the pair of California teams. Despite having strong chances to make the top four, Sacramento finished seventh overall. LA got a rare run of luck and won with the fifth overall pick.

The Clippers reached such a critical spot despite being playoff contenders this spring because of the bold trade they made that sent Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for a top-four protected pick. When Indy finished with the fifth overall pick, the selection went to LA.

In the days since, various draft speculations have linked the Kings and Clippers to star prospects such as Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Keaton Wagler. However, according to CBS Sports draft expert Adam Finkelstein, both teams could go in surprising directions with their picks at five and seven, respectively.

Finkelstein claims that after looking impressive at the NBA Draft Combine this week, Michigan big man Ade Mara is rapidly moving up draft boards, and the Clippers and Kings have the most obvious need for a center in which the Spaniard has “incredible size, rim protection, deceptive mobility, passing and touch.”

“It remains to be seen whether someone will pull the trigger at 5 or 7, but it is no longer viewed as unlikely, especially in that latter scenario,” Finklestein noted about the player who was originally projected to go much later in Round 1.

If any Michigan star advanced to the event, most basketball fans would assume it would be top star Yaxel Lendeborg. The senior was first or second to the national champions in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

But Mara is a beast at 7-foot-3 and 259 pounds. Its wingspan is 7 feet 6 feet and height is 9 feet 9 inches. Mara is a shot-blocking specialist who led the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks last season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Kawhi Leonard’s days as a Los Angeles Clipper are done. one way or another.

We are still waiting for the NBA’s decision on how to punish the Clippers for the alleged ‘cap rigging’ scandal. This could potentially void Leonard’s contract (with one year remaining on $50 million). But even if not, it appears that Kawhi’s trade from La La Land is certain this summer.

Rumors have been flying around in recent weeks, but the latest information from insider Sean Deveney seems to put the nail in Kawhi’s coffin in LA.

According to a source close to Deveney, the Clippers will “move into a rebuild” this summer based on securing the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

“I think you’ll see that they really move forward with rebuilding this summer, and they can probably get it done relatively quickly.”

The Clips got a huge lead on that young move before the trade deadline. They added exciting young backcourt players Benedict Mathurin, 23, of the Indiana Pacers, and Darius Garland, 26, of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He moved ahead of veterans Ivica Zubac and James Harden in the process.

Next, a perfect move to stay young in a trade to send Leonard to a team that needs a veteran superstar with championship credentials.

3 teams named as top summer contenders for Kawhi Leonard

Devenney specifically names three teams that are renowned as prime contenders for superstar-hunting Leonard:

• Miami Heat
• new York Knicks
• Golden State Warriors

The Warriors attempted to trade for any big star they could acquire at the deadline, with rumored targets including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi. They’ll try again this summer, potentially on all three fronts.

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points writes, “Trading for a big-name star is extremely relevant for owner Joe Lacob and the Warriors.”

All three teams are also in the running in the Giannis sweepstakes, but Kawhi will also be a target.

Leonard returned to the top of his game last season. He proved that even at the age of 34, after years of injury troubles, he can still be one of the top players in the NBA. Kawhi averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 boards and 3.6 assists per game in 65 games.

He is a two-time Finals MVP, in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs and in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

The NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard has dominated the league’s headlines. Los Angeles reportedly attempted to circumvent the NBA salary cap by paying money to Leonard through a bankrupt company called Aspiration. As of now, the NBA has not finalized its investigation; However, a franchise-altering decision may be coming.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix joins Rachel Nichols on Open Floor to discuss the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers. While the NBA continues to work on the scandal, the Clippers may receive a “basketball death sentence.”

“I don’t know what’s in that thing, but certainly a lot of people in NBA front offices around the league are speculating that something is going to happen,” Mannix said. “It’s some kind of punishment. Whether it’s a slap on the wrist or, you know, a basketball death penalty, I don’t know. But there’s a lot of curiosity right now about how close the NBA is getting to revealing all this.”

This would be a terrible outcome for Los Angeles, as it would cripple the organization for years to come. However, what is the NBA’s version of basketball death penalty likely to include?

Los Angeles Clippers’ potential penalties for Kawhi Leonard scandal

There is precedent for teams messing with the NBA salary cap. In 2000, the NBA voided Joe Smith’s contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves after circumventing the salary cap. Minnesota was also stripped of five first-round picks, fined $3.5 million, and officials Kevin McHale and Glenn Taylor were suspended.

The Clippers could face similar punishment; However, more drastic action may be taken. There are rumors that Leonard’s contract could also be voided, which would affect the Clippers’ immediate future as a playoff contender. This would bring the superstar forward into NBA free agency.

As of now, the Clippers have several first-round picks that could be traded away, so there won’t be a problem if the NBA decides to go that route. Meanwhile, the potential fine could exceed $3.5 million, as the value has increased over the past 26 years. Either way, Los Angeles could face devastating consequences from the NBA’s investigation.

It’s unclear when the NBA will release its findings, but the Clippers hope it won’t result in the NBA’s version of a “basketball death sentence.”

READ MORE: NBA could void Kawhi Leonard’s contract amid Los Angeles Clippers investigation

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

Anything is gravy for the Los Angeles Clippers at this point in the season; Whatever they accomplish from here will already be such a huge win when taking into account where they have to start the 2025-26 NBA season. This Clippers team started the season losing 21 of their first 27 games, and looked like a complete bust. But then Kawhi Leonard turned in arguably his most impressive self to date and saved the Clippers from deep.

At the time of writing, the Clippers’ record is 36-36, meaning they have won 30 of their last 45 games. This is a team that cannot be underestimated, as LA has been stopped in its tracks by not making the slightest of roster changes before the trade deadline.

Now, the Clippers have faced a difficult situation recently. But they still went 9-5 in the month of March and managed to reach the eighth seed in the Western Conference – a scenario that would seem absurd to any fan of the team if this news had been delivered in mid-December.

But with everything going well for the Clippers, especially considering where they are coming from, some fans will be anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, this is the Clippers franchise; There may have been some good moments in the team’s history, but bad luck somehow gets in the way of the franchise.

Ultimately, this is the scenario that any Clippers fan would dread as the start of the postseason and play-in tournament approaches.

Clippers’ nightmare scenario: Kawhi Leonard gets hurt before play-ins

As mentioned earlier, the fact that the Clippers have managed to rise from the dead in this way is already a huge win for the franchise. Never mind that the Clippers would blow up another first-round pick in the middle of the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The fact that they have a chance to not accept a lottery pick is already a big win.

The Paul George business already has sunk costs. He invested a lot of resources on a team that had two to three years of competition experience and in the end, injury problems became too much for the team to overcome.

It would be a cruel twist of the knife if somehow, injury problems become the thing that prevents the Clippers from exceeding their lofty expectations once again.

Leonard, in particular, is the healthiest he has been in years. Last season there were signs that the 34-year-old star was in decline and that his career was on the decline. He had some memorable outbursts in the playoffs, but no longer appears to have the superstar ability to carry teams.

But Leonard’s knees look healthier than ever; In fact, it has been his ankles that have been giving him the most problems all season. For someone who has struggled with chronic knee problems, Leonard’s health has been quite a gift. It would be a shame if Leonard, knock on wood, somehow re-aggravates his knee problems that will keep him out of playing a tournament game or two for the Clippers.

Leonard’s injury problems in the playoffs are well documented. He tore his ACL in 2021, when it looked like the Clippers had the best chance to win the title. In 2023, George tore his meniscus after battling tooth and nail against the Phoenix Suns in the first round amid injury. And then in 2024, when the Clippers got a new lease of life with James Harden, Leonard was a strong player in his own right and was a non-factor in a six-game series loss against the Dallas Mavericks.

If Leonard suffers a serious injury, nothing could go wrong for the Clippers. This is the scenario that would cause the sky to fall outside the Intuit Dome and would put quite a spin on what has been a fun rollercoaster of a season for LA.

Clippers’ nightmare matchup scenario: LA slips to 10th, faces Stephen Curry-led Warriors

As far as matchups go, the Clippers should remain firmly entrenched within the seven to 10 range in the Western Conference postseason picture. They are 7.5 games behind the sixth-place Houston Rockets in the win-loss column at the time of writing, which is impossible to accomplish with 12 games remaining in the season.

The Clippers can still reach the seventh spot, giving them homecourt advantage in 7/8 play-in games. It’s suited for LA; They are 20-15 at home, and if they lose, they have another chance to make the playoffs in another home game against the winner of the 9/10 matchup.

However, the Clippers are closer to falling to 10th place than reaching seventh place. They are 3.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns, while they are just two games ahead of the struggling Golden State Warriors. There’s a chance the Clippers still move up to the 10th seed, especially as they have three games remaining against the Dubs (one) and ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers (two).

LA will want to avoid slipping to tenth place, as they will be forced to fight for their postseason lives on the road against one of two teams with a winning record at home. The Clippers are just 16-21 away from the Intuit Dome, which is far from the worst, but it’s not the most promising either.

What will be even more disappointing will be that the Clippers will be playing against a Warriors team in the 9/10 play-in game as Stephen Curry returns from injury. Now, there is nothing concrete yet about when Curry will be able to return.

But the Dubs are hopeful he can play before the season ends. And Curry, given how battle-tested he is, is not someone the Clippers want to face in a do-or-die situation on the road.

The Toronto Raptors play the final game of their five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. They have gone 2-2 during that span and come into the game coming off a 143-127 win over the Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are looking to improve from the .500 mark (36-36) and come into this game looking to complete a hat trick of wins. Last time out they emerged 129-96 winners, with Kawhi Leonard returning with 28 points and five rebounds. However, he is a suspect in this matter.

On the other hand, Raptors are also shorthanded and have many potential absences. Among them is none other than Brandon Ingram, who is listed as questionable on the official injury report due to inflammation in the heel of his right foot, a problem that kept him out of the win against the Jazz.

Brandon Ingram’s injury status vs. Clippers

Given that Brandon Ingram’s injury report is questionable, his availability for this late-night contest in Los Angeles remains uncertain. Ingram played against the Phoenix Suns, but had a bad night, scoring only six points in 27 minutes, while getting four rebounds and three blocks on 3-10 shooting. Toronto lost that game 120–98.

They enter this matchup at 40-31, which is good for 5th place in the East. The Raptors scored 143 points in their last game, while also recording a franchise-record 49 assists, showing they are capable of hurting defenses even without Ingram.

However, four of their starters finished with over 20 points, led by RJ Barrett, who returned with 27, while Scotty Barnes had a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists. Additionally, Ingram is averaging 21.6 points per game and if he misses his second consecutive game, Toronto will need players like Barrett and Barnes to take over offensive responsibilities.

Barrett has scored more than 20 points in 10 of his last 15 games, while Barnes is averaging 18.6 points per game for the season. This matchup presents a contrast in styles, with Toronto relying heavily on ball movement and assist-driven offense (third in the NBA at 29.1 assists per game), while Los Angeles relies on shot efficiency and halfcourt scoring.

Regardless, the Clippers have won six of their last eight games in the Intuit Dome, while averaging 127.3 points over that span. They also remain an efficient offensive unit, ranking among the league leaders in both field goal percentage (48.5%) and three-point shooting (36.5%), while also leading the NBA in free-throw percentage (82.6%).

LA also won the first meeting between the two sides this season, 121–117 in overtime. Still, Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists this campaign and L.A.’s ability to make that run may also depend on whether their best player plays.

Raptors injury report

Brandon Ingram – Questionable (right foot, heel swelling).

Emmanuel Quickley – doubtful (right foot; plantar fasciitis)

Jakob Poeltl – doubtful (back; injury management)

Chucky Hepburn – Out (G League Two-Way)

AJ Lawson – Out (G League Two-Way)

Elijah Martin – Out (G League Two-Way)

shear injury report

Kawhi Leonard – Questionable (left ankle; sprain)

Jordan Miller – questionable (back; soreness)

Bradley Beal – out (left hip; fracture)

Yannick Konan Niederhauser – out (rupture of right Lisfranc ligament)

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers will take the field for a home game against the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Here’s everything we know about Leonard’s injury and his playing status on Wednesday against the Raptors.

Kawhi Leonard’s playing situation against the Raptors

There is some doubt at the moment as to whether Kawhi Leonard will be able to compete against his former team on Wednesday, given his questionable designation on the injury report. Leonard played in the Clippers’ last game, a home win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and played well for the most part, but he has been on the injury report repeatedly over the past week due to an ankle ailment.

The injury report also includes Jordan Miller, who is questionable due to back pain.

For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram is questionable for this game due to heel inflammation, while Jakob Poeltl is also questionable due to management of a lower back strain injury. Immanuel Quickley is listed as questionable due to a planter.
He has fasciitis in his right foot.

Overall, the Clippers are looking to pick up as many wins as possible to improve their playoff position as the 2025-26 season enters its home leg.

The Clippers are currently in eighth place in the conference, and although it is unlikely they can move further than that, they are only half a game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. Slipping up in that position would mean winning two play-in games to reach the playoffs, not just one.

In any case, the Clippers and Raptors are scheduled to tip off from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:30 pm ET.

The NBA investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard is still ongoing. The Clippers reportedly attempted to circumvent the NBA salary cap by paying money to Leonard through a bankrupt company called Aspiration. No verdict has been reached on the scam; However, the Clippers may lose Leonard.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix joins Rachel Nichols on Open Floor to discuss the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers. Although nothing has been disclosed by the NBA, there is a possibility that Leonard’s contract could be voided.

“It is relevant as [Kawhi Leonard]contract,” Mannix said. “If [the NBA] Decides that ‘Hey, we can void Kawhi’s contract because we deem it invalid because of how this all came together.’ There’s a lot – I mean, there’s as much discussion about anything in the NBA right now. Anything. “Every field I go to, I hear about it, every conversation I have with league and team officials, this comes up.”

This would not be the first time that the NBA has canceled a contract. In 2000, the NBA voided Joe Smith’s contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves after circumventing the salary cap. There is precedent for a voided contract, and the Clippers could face similar penalties with Leonard.

Other possible penalties for Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

There are other potential penalties for Leonard and the Clippers. If the NBA gets things wrong with Los Angeles, the organization could be stripped of multiple first-round selections, fined a large amount of money, and face a suspension or worse in the basketball personnel department.

With Minnesota, the NBA stripped the organization of five first-round selections, fined the organization $3.5 million, and suspended Timberwolves executives Kevin McHale and Glenn Taylor. The Clippers could face a similar punishment that would cripple the organization’s future.

As far as Leonard is concerned, the biggest penalty would be to cancel the contract with the Clippers, but suspension or fine cannot be ruled out. It all depends on what the NBA finds in its investigation. If the NBA voids the superstar’s contract, it would likely spark a bidding war in free agency, if not his future in jeopardy.

It’s unclear when the NBA will reveal its findings and potential penalties, but the Clippers may be on the verge of a watershed moment in team history. If the NBA decides to give up, it will have a huge impact on Los Angeles’ future and set the organization back for a long time.

It would start with Leonard’s contract being voided, which would shock the NBA.

READ MORE: Rumor opens door to Spurs and Kawhi Leonard reuniting this summer

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks will face each other on Monday night. However, Kawhi Leonard is dealing with an ankle injury and is among the players listed on the injury report.

The Clippers are monitoring Leonard’s injury closely. Here’s everything we know about his status for tonight’s game vs. the Bucks.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Bucks

According to the NBA injury report, Leonard is questionable to play Monday night due to a sprained left ankle.

The Clippers are 35-36 overall and in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 29-41 Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Monday’s game is expected to be competitive. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for the Bucks due to injury. Leonard’s final injury status will certainly go a long way in determining the outcome of Monday’s game.

As far as the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing against the Bucks tonight, the answer is probably.

shear injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on Monday’s injury report.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• John Collins (left ankle sprain): Probable
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

bucks injury report

The Bucks also have five players on the injury report for the game.

• Gary Harris (left groin injury): probable
• Kyle Kuzma (right Achilles soreness): Questionable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee hyperextension bone injury): Out
• Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis): out
• Alex Antetokounmpo (G League Two-Way): Out

The Los Angeles Clippers face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night and Kawhi Leonard is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, putting the Clippers’ star in focus as the team tries to end a four-game losing streak and stay in the play-in race.

The Clippers entered the matchup at 34–36, No. 9 in the Western Conference, looking to regain momentum. Dallas, meanwhile, comes in at 23-47, No. 13 in the West, trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Kawhi Leonard and his game status vs. the Mavericks.

Kawhi Leonard has continued to be elite this season. He averaged 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 54 games. He is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three, as well as 89.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Leonard continues to dictate the game on both ends. He makes his shots with ease and holds the Clippers defensively. His presence sets the tone and provides structure to Los Angeles in high-pressure moments.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Mavericks

The Clippers’ injury report makes Leonard’s situation particularly important. Bradley Beal (hip) is out with injuries, while Benedict Mathurin (toe) and Yannick Konan Niederhauser (foot) remain sidelined. Los Angeles can’t afford to lose another key piece as it struggles to stay in the play-in picture.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, are dealing with key absences. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Derek Lively II (foot) are out along with Brandon Williams (concussion). Several players are listed as questionable, including Caleb Martin (heel), Moussa Cisse, John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith.

The Clippers are looking for stability. The Mavericks are trying to stop the decline. So when it comes to whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Mavericks, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

The LA Clippers are in the midst of a three-game road trip, currently the second night of a back-to-back set on Thursday night in New Orleans and the fifth game in a tough five-on-seven stretch for the team.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard returned Wednesday night after a one-game absence and played against the Pelicans. Leonard was previously unable to participate in Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs due to a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Leonard left the Kings’ game in the fourth quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. Kawhi Leonard made a quick recovery in time to play on Wednesday night, but will the game be played again on Thursday night?

Here’s everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard was listed as “doubtful” to play in the Clippers’ first contest against the Pelicans, and was eventually upgraded to available. The Clippers’ injury report for Thursday night has Leonard once again listed as “questionable” for the game with a left ankle sprain. This is the second night of back-to-back sets after recovering from injury, so Leonard will be in high gear.

Just before the game, the LA Clippers announced that Leonard had been ruled out of the game. The franchise has historically had a cautious history with the two-time NBA Finals MVP, but Leonard has placed an emphasis on playing as many games as possible, especially when the team is fighting for playoff position.

Worth watching is that guard Darius Garland has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game with a left big toe injury. He has not played a consistent match since his return and there is no reason to believe he will do so any time soon this season.

Kawhi Leonard has a bad reputation among NBA fans due to his unfortunate injuries, but he has played in both halves of nine back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 regular season with the Clippers, demonstrating his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level. In previous years, the Clippers have kept him out of back-to-back sets due to serious injuries, such as a torn ACL that ended his 2021 and 2022 postseasons, a torn meniscus that cut his 2023 postseason short, and knee inflammation that caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season and has played in 54 of the Clippers’ 69 games so far. Leonard missed 10 of the 15 games due to a severe right ankle sprain he suffered in November. Despite suffering a left ankle injury against the Spurs, Leonard finished with his 45th straight game of 20+ points, surpassing Bob McAdoo and setting a new franchise record. Leonard scored 25 points with eight rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting from the field on Wednesday, extending his streak of 20+ point games to 46, the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen anybody do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-24 in the 53 games that Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-11 in the 15 games he has not played. They’re also 0-3 in the three games Leonard has missed due to injury in the fourth quarter – against the Heat, Lakers and Kings.

Leonard is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line. 28.2 points are the highest in his career.

The Clippers posted a 34–35 record, turning their season around and going 28–14 since starting the season 6–21. However, they have lost three games in a row and could face a fourth straight loss when they take on the Pelicans without Leonard and Garland.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (left ankle sprain): Out
• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Trey Alexander (G League – Two Way): Out
• Hunter Dickerson (G League – Two Way): Out
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Dejounte Murray (right Achilles injury management): out
• Josh Oduro (G League – Two Way): Out

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Clippers 124-109 in their last game on Wednesday night. Thursday’s game between the Clippers and Pelicans is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season.

The New Orleans Pelicans face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night and Dejounte Murray is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable due to the illness, making the Pelicans guard a focus as the team tries to win consecutive games. Murray’s situation is even more critical as he recently returned from a ruptured Achilles in late February, leading to his every appearance being closely monitored.

The Pelicans enter the matchup at 23-46. They are ranked 12th in the West and are trying to win games regularly. Meanwhile, the Clippers fall to 34-34. They are ranked eighth in the West and are aiming to break a two-match losing streak. They are also trying to stabilize their playoff position. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Dejounte Murray and his game status against the Clippers.

Dejounte Murray has made an immediate impact following his return. In eight games, he is averaging 19.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 27.0 minutes per game. He is shooting an efficient 54.7 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line.

His all-around production gives the Pelicans a reliable playmaker and scorer. Murray’s ability to control the pace, create opportunities and contribute defensively adds balance to the Pelicans’ lineup. When he is available, the offense operates with more structure and confidence.

Dejounte Murray’s injury status vs. Clippers

The Pelicans’ injury report makes Murray’s availability especially important because New Orleans is shorthanded. Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson are out on G League assignment, Bryce McGowens (toe) is out, and Josh Oduro is also unavailable.

On the other hand, the Clippers are struggling with key injuries. Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Darius Garland (toe) are questionable, while Bradley Beal (hip), Benedict Mathurin (toe), and Yannick Konan Niederhauser (foot) are out.

The Pelicans are looking to string together wins, while Los Angeles aims to stop their decline and stay in the playoff race. So when it comes to whether Dejounte Murray is playing tonight against the Clippers, the answer is uncertain. His status will depend on pregame evaluation.

The LA Clippers begin a three-game two-city road trip starting with the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. This is the fourth game in a difficult five-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard was unable to play in Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs after suffering a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Leonard left the game in the fourth quarter, went back to the locker, and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard was suffering from a left ankle sprain and would be reevaluated before the upcoming three-game trip.

Here’s everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard was listed as “questionable” to play in the Clippers’ home contest against the Spurs, and was ultimately ruled out of the contest in the afternoon. Leonard is once again listed on the Clippers’ injury report for Wednesday, but he has already been upgraded to “questionable” against the Pelicans, the first night of back-to-back sets and the end of a five-game stretch.

If Leonard plays in Wednesday night’s game, it is highly unlikely that he will also play in Thursday night’s game against the Pelicans, given the franchise’s cautious history with the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Another factor to consider is that Darius Garland is also listed as “questionable” to play in Wednesday’s game. He has not played a consistent match since his return and there is no reason to believe he will do so any time soon this season.

Despite bad signs due to his unfortunate injuries, Kawhi Leonard has played in both halves of nine back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 regular season with the Clippers, demonstrating his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level. In previous years, the Clippers have kept him out of back-to-back sets due to serious injuries, such as a torn ACL that ended his 2021 and 2022 postseasons, a torn meniscus that cut his 2023 postseason short, and knee inflammation that caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season and has played in 53 of the Clippers’ 68 games so far. Of the 15 games Leonard missed, 10 were due to a severe right ankle sprain. Despite suffering a left ankle injury against the Spurs, Leonard finished with his 45th straight game of 20+ points, surpassing Bob McAdoo and setting a new franchise record. Leonard’s current streak is the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen anybody do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-23 in the 53 games that Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-11 in the 15 games that he has not played. They’re also 0-3 in the three games Leonard has missed due to injury in the fourth quarter – against the Heat, Lakers and Kings.

Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free-throw line. 28.3 points are a career high.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–34 record, turning their season around to 28–13 since starting the season 6–21.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): Questionable.
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Trey Alexander (G League – Two Way): Out
• Hunter Dickerson (G League – Two Way): Out
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Dejounte Murray (illness): Out
• Josh Oduro (G League – Two Way): Out

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Dallas Mavericks 129-111 in their last game on Monday night. Wednesday night’s game represents the third of four matchups between the LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The LA Clippers are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the third game of a tough five-on-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard played in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, but left the game in the fourth quarter due to a left ankle injury. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard was suffering from a left ankle sprain, and would be reevaluated.

Everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Spurs.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Spurs

Kawhi Leonard was unlisted on the Clippers’ injury report for Saturday night’s game against the Kings, the second game of a back-to-back set. Leonard had been playing in consistent sets this season when healthy, but sprained his left ankle for the second time after the NBA All-Star break.

Leonard is listed as “questionable” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, and it appears he will be held out of the game. The LA Clippers are expected to make it official around 6pm PST, after Leonard has finished his usual pre-game workout routine and is evaluated by the medical staff.

Kawhi Leonard has played nine consecutive sets with the Clippers this season, indicating that he is healthy enough to play. In years past, the Clippers have kept him out of most back-to-back sets, but that was largely due to his injuries, such as a torn ACL, torn meniscus and knee inflammation, which caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season, playing 53 of the Clippers’ 67 games so far, 10 of which were missed due to a severe right ankle sprain. Despite the injury on Saturday, Leonard surpassed Bob McAdoo with his 45th-straight games of 20+ points, setting a new franchise record. Leonard’s current streak is the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen someone do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-23 in the 53 games Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-10 in the 14 games he has not played. Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free throw line.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–33 record, turning their season around to 28–12 since starting the season 6–21.

When it comes to the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is probably no.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have three players listed on the injury report for Monday night’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable.
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

Spurs injury report

Spurs have five players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Dylan Harper (right calf injury): out
• Harrison Ingram (G League – Two Way): Out
• David Jones Garcia (G League – Two Way): Out
• Luke Cornet (right knee soreness): out
• Emmanuel Miller (G League – Two Way): Out

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-102 on Saturday night before beginning their flight to Los Angeles. Monday night’s game represents the second of three matchups between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.

The LA Clippers are set to host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, the second game of a tough five-on-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Two-time NBA All-Star Darius Garland was on the Clippers’ injury report for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls and did not play with what the team called “left toe injury management.” The Clippers are taking several precautions to ensure that Garland does not suffer any effects from surgery on his left toe in the offseason, as well as a sprain on his right toe earlier this season.

Everything we know about Darius Garland’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Kings.

Darius Garland’s injury status vs. Kings

Darius Garland was listed out for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, but is expected to be upgraded to “available” to play in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. The LA Clippers are expected to make it official around 1pm PST when the official injury report is released.

Darius Garland hasn’t played in any back-to-backs since the Clippers acquired him in the trade deadline week deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers for James Harden. The Clippers guard has had his minutes limited in his return to action following a toe injury, but hopes to continue playing his way through it.

Darius Garland told ClutchPoints, “I’m just trying to stick with it. My teammates are picking me up, the coaches are telling me to stick with it. I’m just trying to get my rhythm back, get used to playing with everybody, get used to the system. I mean it’s been good, it’s been seamless. I’ve had issues with the minutes restriction, but it’s all good. I’m just talking about the medical staff and the coaches. Trying to listen and just go out there and play with a chip on my shoulder and work as hard as I can when I have those minutes.”

The Clippers are undefeated in the five games Garland has played so far, with the guard averaging 17.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from three.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–32 record, turning their season around to 28–11 since starting the season 6–21.

When it comes to the question of whether Darius Garland is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is yes.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have four players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• John Collins (neck strain): out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

Kings injury report

The Clippers have nine players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Patrick Baldwin Jr. (G League – Two-Way): Out
• Devin Carter (right calf soreness): out
• Drew Eubanks (left thumb soreness): out
• De’Andre Hunter (retinal repair of left eye): out
• Zach LaVine (right fifth finger tendon repair): out
• Malik Monk (right ankle soreness): doubtful
• Keegan Murray (sprained left ankle): Out
• Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair): outside
• Isaiah Stevens (G League – Two-Way): Out

The Sacramento Kings were defeated by the Charlotte Hornets 117-109 on Wednesday night. Friday’s game represents the second consecutive contest for the Clippers.

The Chicago Bulls will visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton are listed as questionable on the NBA injury report. Okoro Wright has been battling patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Meanwhile, Sexton is batting with a left fibular head injury. On Thursday, the Bulls lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 142-130 in a tense battle. Here’s everything we know about Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton’s injuries and their game status vs. the Clippers.

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Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton’s injury status vs. Clippers

Given that Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton are listed as questionable, it is assumed that they will not play. Both have been on the injury list this season. Sexton, while with the Charlotte Hornets, missed eight games due to quad/thigh and hamstring injuries. He suffered a neck injury in November.

During the trade deadline, Sexton was traded to Chicago in a deal that sent Coby White to the Hornets. Despite scoring 28 points against the Sacramento Kings on March 7, Sexton was taken out of the game with a concussion.

Sexton was absent against the Golden State Warriors and Lakers.

Okoro has missed several games due to neck, back/neck and knee injuries. He missed the Lakers’ game on Thursday.

Overall, Sexton is averaging 14.6 points per game. Okoro, meanwhile, is averaging 9.0 points per game. Additionally, the Bulls are 27-39 and have lost seven of their last 10 games.

So when it comes to the question of whether Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton are playing against the Lakers tonight, the answer is no.

oxen injury report

Isaac Okoro (right patellofemoral pain syndrome) – doubtful

Colin Sexton (contusion of left fibular head) – questionable.

Jalen Smith (left calf strain) – probable

Patrick Williams (left ankle sprain) – questionable

Guershon Yabusele (left foot sore) – doubtful

Jaden Ivy (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)-out

Effernie Simmons (left ulnar styloid; fracture) – Outside

shear injury report

Bradley Beal (left hip fracture) – out

John Collins (neck strain)-out

Darius Garland (left toe injury management) – OUT

Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament; rupture) – OUT

The Los Angeles Clippers are set to host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. However, is Darris Garland playing in tonight’s game vs. the Bulls?

Garland is listed on the injury report with a left toe injury management. LA is monitoring his situation and taking a cautious approach. Garland has made a big impact with the Clippers since being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles wants him to stay healthy for a potential postseason appearance.

Everything we know about Darius Garland’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Bulls.

Darius Garland’s injury status vs. Bulls

According to the NBA injury report, Garland is listed out for Friday’s game.

Garland has faced injury concerns this season. As mentioned, the Clippers are proceeding with caution regarding his toe injury. He won’t play Friday, but Los Angeles should still be in a respectable position to earn a win against the 27-39 Bulls.

When it comes to the question of whether Darius Garland is playing tonight against the Bulls, the answer is no.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have four players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• John Collins (neck strain): out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

The Bulls were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers 142-130 on Thursday. Friday’s game represents the second game of a back-to-back, meaning Chicago’s injury report has not been released as of the publication of this story.

A new rumor offers a major update on the potential penalty the NBA will hand out to the Los Angeles Clippers in regards to potential salary cap manipulation for signing Kawhi Leonard in 2019.

The Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer found themselves embroiled in an ugly scandal last year when investigative reporter Pablo Torre broke the news about potential salary cap manipulation by the organization. Obviously, when the team signed Leonard to a three-year, $103 million deal in the summer of 2019, it included a huge amount of off-the-books payment.

During his investigation, Torre found documents that showed the Clippers boss helped create a dummy company called Aspiration, which signed the star forward with a $28 million endorsement deal. Yet he never made any presentation on behalf of the brand. The support price was suspiciously close to making up the difference between what the Clippers could legally make and the maximum competing offer from the Toronto Raptors.

Following the damaging report, the NBA launched an investigation into LA’s possible dirty dealings in signing the seven-time All-Star. Although there has been no update on when a final decision might come from the league, there has been a lot of speculation about what the potential punishment could be for the Clippers. Well, it may have been revealed this week.

LA Clippers could lose 3 first-round picks due to Kawhi Leonard-aspiration scandal

During a new edition of the SiriusXM show starting lineupHosted by Frank Isola and NBA veteran Brian Scalabrine, NBA Insider claimed that sources told them the Clippers could lose three future first-round picks, and could also receive a monetary fine of up to $30 million.

Los Angeles has only three first-round selections in the next five NBA drafts. However, this may change depending on the trades made in the previous month. In any way. For a franchise that began its rebuild this year, losing three first-rounders could set the franchise back by nearly a decade.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Los Angeles Clippers not only beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night; He embarrassed them. But while Kawhi Leonard was busy putting on a historic masterpiece, the real fireworks began after the final buzzer sounded at the Intuit Dome.

In a game in which Leonard went completely nuclear, the Clippers won 153–128, which was marred by a post-game brawl. Tensions eventually flared up when a heated exchange broke out between Naz Reed, Jaden McDaniels and Benedict Mathurin, requiring teammates and security to separate the groups. The frustration on the part of the Minnesota Timberwolves was understandable, considering they were on the wrong end of one of the most efficient scoring performances in NBA history.

Naz Reed, Jaden McDaniels and Benedict Mathurin get into an altercation after the game 👀

pic.twitter.com/EAf5Y3T93J https://t.co/rwzwGhRYRu

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 12 March 2026

Kawhi Leonard was the catalyst for all that frustration. “The Claw” finished with 45 points, five rebounds and five assists, but efficiency was the terrible part. Leonard shot a whopping 15 of 20 from the field, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. He also missed 9 of 10 free throws, essentially scoring at will against a Minnesota defense that currently ranks among the league’s elite.

While Anthony Edwards tried to keep pace with 36 points, the Timberwolves had no answer for a Clippers team that shot 63 percent as a unit. Julius Randle contributed 18 points in the loss, but the lack of defensive resistance clearly took its toll on the visiting team. The postgame melee between Mathurin and the Timberwolves’ frontcourt duo looked like a direct byproduct of a 25-point blowout.

For the Clippers, this win did more than just provide highlights; It takes them above the .500 mark for the first time since their disappointing 5-20 start. If Leonard continues to play at this “cyborg” level of efficiency, the rest of the Western Conference players are going to have a lot more to worry about.

The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday in a marquee matchup in the Western Conference.

The Timberwolves are trying to break a two-game skid, while the Clippers have been on a roll recently, winning five of their last six games, with Kawhi Leonard playing at an MVP level.

Stopping Leonard will require a collective effort from Minnesota, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels being the primary on-ball stoppers. But clearly, Rudy Gobert remains their defensive anchor.

The Athletic’s Law Miller points to significant decline in Timberwolves defensive efficiency When Gobert is off the field this season. When asked about it, Minnesota coach Chris Finch emphasized Gobert’s importance and acknowledged his shortcomings.

“When he’s off the floor, we need to protect the rim differently. Better on the ball, better around the ball and earlier at the rim. Obviously, we’ve been inconsistent at times with things like that this year,” Finch said.

“He’s huge for us. It takes some nuances to play with a guy like Rudy. When he’s off the field, you have to transition to a different mentality defensively.”

The Timberwolves’ defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 107.7

The Timberwolves’ defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 116.7

asked Chris Finch about this pic.twitter.com/nWVDpE6B75

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 12 March 2026

Many have mocked the 33-year-old Gobert for his lack of offensive skills and awkward antics. But there’s no denying that he can be a game-changer on the defensive end.

He’s not a four-time Defensive Player of the Year for nothing.

Edwards has often talked about his defensive identity and how important it is for him and Gobert to set the tone.

Entering their game against the Clippers, the Timberwolves are allowing 114.5 points per game. But as Finch said, there is still room for improvement overall.

At the time of writing, there is a close game between Minnesota and Los Angeles in the first half.

The Knicks are generally careful with basketball. They average 13.7 turnovers per game, eighth-fewest in the NBA. However, when they turn the ball over their performance obviously suffers.

Knicks must limit bad turnover game

In 25 losses this season, the Knicks are averaging 15.5 turnovers per game. When they commit 14 or fewer turnovers they are 30-12, and when they commit 15 or more turnovers they are 11-13. Granted, this is a problem for most teams, as turning the ball over has a zero-sum effect on a team’s ability to score relative to the chances given to their opponents. But the problem isn’t just that New York performs poorly when turning the ball over, which is essentially the case for most teams; This is how many times they exceed their average.

For context, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder committed 15 or more turnovers only 17 times last season. And the 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics did so only 18 times in 2023-24. By comparison, New York has done it 24 times this season with 15 games remaining.

Why does high turnover lead to poor performance?

The Knicks clearly thrive in a low-turnover, high-efficiency model. Under head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks maintain the fourth-lowest turnover rate in the league. They have an average turnover rate of 10.5% in wins this season; However, in losses this figure has increased to 13.1%.

especially, The points they give up from turnovers present a major problem. When New York turns the ball over, it often turns into scoring opportunities for their opponents. And when the Knicks defense is suffering, which was the case. 2-9 expansion in January 2026, their turnover problems become unsustainable, as they begin to bleed points.

Jose Alvarado could be the key to the Knicks taking care of the basketball

One reason for the Knicks’ inconsistent ball security may be their lack of a true backup point guard. The Knicks’ 2025-26 identity is built on being an offensive juggernaut who makes efficient shots, especially corner threes. When they turn the ball over above their season average, they lose possession games. And because they play on one Slow pace (ranked 21st according to ESPN)Every lost property is magnified.

Fortunately, the addition of Jose Alvarado may have solved this problem. Alvarado has helped New York get a more consistent rotation, taking over playmaking duties when Jalen Brunson needs a break. And it does so efficiently and productively. Alvarado has turned the ball over just 11 times in 14 games with the Knicks. And in those 14 games, New York is 10-4. And if you ignore the last two games – in which the Knicks have turned the ball over 39 times – they are averaging just 13 turnovers per game since adding the New York native.

Ultimately, it seems as if the Knicks’ path to a championship depends on maintaining elite ball protection. If they can take care of the basketball regularly, they will have very few problems in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Conversely, if they fall victim to poor play – as they have recently on a two-game losing streak – it could be a challenging spring for everyone involved.

Just when it seemed like the New York Knicks were figuring it out, they took a few steps back that calls into question the validity of their status as a contending team. On Monday night, the Knicks lost another game in Los Angeles, this time against the Clippers, New York did not have enough strength on both ends of the court and lost 126-118.

The Knicks, in particular, struggled taking care of the basketball. They turned the ball over 19 times as a unit, and a balanced table-setter would have caught on for New York, especially when they could rely on Karl-Anthony Towns to score the rock on a night where he tallied 35 points.

The Knicks have some depth uncertainty behind Jalen Brunson, which is why they brought in Jose Alvarado via trade in the first place. But head coach Mike Brown hasn’t exactly given Alvarado a long leeway; On Monday, he played only eight minutes and could not score, adding three points to his troubles.

After the game, Brown explained his decision to bench Alvarado and dust off Tyler Kolek.

According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, Brown said, “I thought Jose was struggling a little bit so I moved Tyler out there and wanted to see if we could get a boost.”

The Knicks have no defense right now

This may be where Mitchell Robinson’s absence is felt most. The Knicks have allowed the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers to get whatever they wanted on back-to-back nights. A common factor in those losses has been the Knicks’ turnover problems, and the team’s guard struggles haven’t helped either.

The good news is that the schedule suits the Knicks for the next few weeks. They next face the Utah Jazz, followed by games against the Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, two tanking teams in the Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, and then the New Orleans Pelicans.

It won’t be until March 26 when they take on the surging Charlotte Hornets and until March 29 when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Victor Wembanyama’s emotions continued after the game after the San Antonio Spurs came back from 25 points to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers.

Noting that generational talent often cites the importance of progress, ClutchPoints asked Wembey how such a big win fits into the bigger picture of what Spurs have achieved and continue to work on.

“For me, it’s very meaningful, that win. It’s definitely not a game that I would have seen us winning two years ago. It’s actually a game that two years ago I would have seen us losing by 30 or 40.”

Wembanyama’s first winning season is taking the NBA by storm. After going 22-60 in his rookie year, the Spurs have gone from an elite team with the first overall pick to championship contenders in just two seasons. After a reported 116-112 win against the Clippers, the Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference at 46-17. While there are still 19 games left, they have already won 12 more than last year.

“It’s like, even when the opponent is bad or the opponent is figuring out our game plan, these guys still find a way to have fun. You know what I mean?” Wembley continued his response at ClutchPoints. “It’s not just about having fun, but also doing the little things that are difficult and that make it so we have a lot of fun on the court.”

San Antonio has already had a lot of fun during the season, defeating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder four times. The Spurs have now beaten every team in the Western Conference at least once, courtesy of the rally vs. the Clippers.

“It’s a lot of progress on the court. When you see it, you know it,” Wembanyama told ClutchPoints.

“For me, it’s very meaningful. It’s definitely not a game that I would have seen us winning two years ago. This is actually a game that two years ago I would have seen us losing by 30 or 40…”⬇️

-Talked to Vic about how great as last night’s 25-pt comeback was, this one is in line with #spurs are building pic.twitter.com/JEC7ysF2cM

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 7 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama details incredible Spurs win against Clippers

Twice separate times in the final 13 seconds of the win against Los Angeles, San Antonio missed the back end of a free throw, yet recovered an offensive rebound. Wemby gave his thoughts on watching that kind of fight as his teammates were putting the finishing touches to an improbable victory.

“The fact that we were down 25 and nobody quit and I had limited minutes. I know our starters had limited minutes and everybody who stepped on the court helped in some way.”

The Spurs’ leading scorer played just 22 minutes against Kawhi Leonard and company. He had 39 in a hard-fought win against the Detroit Pistons the night before.

“It means a lot to me because, literally, that fourth quarter was all I had,” Vembanyama admitted. “All the effort, it feels like everyone’s full effort, all the energy went into those last minutes.”

With a successful Rodeo road trip off the back of San Antonio, wins against Detroit and LA began a six-game homestand filled with playoff contenders.

Wembley revealed, “The best thing I’ve noticed is that no one gives up on anything or anyone. Everyone’s got everyone’s back and that’s why I have blind faith in these guys. I mean, I love them so much. It’s such a joy to play with them, share the court and see them every day.”

The Spurs face the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Hornets before going back on the road to face the same Clippers team they just defeated.

The San Antonio Spurs are currently doing things that shouldn’t be possible. On Friday night, the Silver and Black erased a massive 25-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-112, convincing the NBA world that a championship run is not just a dream, it is hope.

It appeared as if the Clippers were playing on the ice, but they were caught in the clutch. Despite San Antonio gifting them three missed free throws late in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles couldn’t muster a single defensive rebound to save their lives. The collapse was historic, the second-largest comeback in the Spurs’ play-by-play era.

pic.twitter.com/fr3wPPMAmy

– Marquis Swinton (@SwishDish720) 7 March 2026

What did we do to deserve this?pic.twitter.com/etHW3NNGQ3

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

These spurs will kill me man😭 pic.twitter.com/DBJKYU28ZT

– Bala (@BalaPattySZN) 7 March 2026

good game poetry pic.twitter.com/EgtGW3GFjH

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

Harrison Barnes will never take a nap again https://t.co/jwtPYdqfnX

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

“Tonight was a great example of why the Spurs are the best team in the NBA right now,” one fan posted on X.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in just 22 minutes of action. However, the most iconic moment belonged to rookie Stefan Cassel. During the game, Castle missed a free throw, grabbed his own rebound and sealed the win. “What an exciting finish in San Antonio!” another fan commented. “Castle missed the free throw… grabbed his own rebound… and sealed the win!”

Wemby started crying after Spurs win 😭
pic.twitter.com/tfRyJr71iU

– Logion Noops (@LogionNoops) 7 March 2026

Spurs win!! Carter Bryant is special!! pic.twitter.com/eY7w8PeSEu

– PJ Hoops (@RealPjHoops) 7 March 2026

you can’t beat my spurs lfgpic.twitter.com/aWk9zwbUqa

– CLAN THE SPURS FAN (@ClanTheSpursFan) 7 March 2026

Spurs defense man.

Carter is flying everywhere.

Victor dominates the paint.

Steiff is the Nels POA in Primary.

Spurs were down 25 and are now up 2.

This is Spurs basketball. pic.twitter.com/MFAOcoCLq5

– Eric Salinas (@EricSal_7) 7 March 2026

Wembley is so sick that he is crying at the regular season victory in March. pic.twitter.com/FDSnfZCdNX

– 🥽 (@spursbeliever) 7 March 2026

The patience displayed by Vembanyama and Spurs is causing many skeptics to reconsider their stance. As another supporter said, “25-point comeback and people still try to say he’s overrated…the league is in trouble.” If San Antonio can find a way to win games like this while their superstar looks like he’s “about to pass out,” the rest of the league is in for a really long postseason.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, when the LA Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, there were two teams in particular who reportedly jumped to inquire about Kawhi Leonard’s availability. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, it was revealed on Friday that one of the teams interested in a potential Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers was the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors’ original trade deadline targets were believed to be Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr. His interest in Kawhi Leonard was ignited after the Clippers trades, which seemingly signaled a reset. When none of those potential deals came to fruition, the Warriors turned to their backup plan which was the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Leonard is entering the final year of his contract with the Clippers, which is worth approximately $50.3 million. Siegel suggests he may once again attract trade interest from opposing teams. This could be a similar situation to when the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard was in the final year of his deal at the time, and ultimately left the franchise in free agency after only one season. But it was still a success for the Raptors because it got them a championship.

Despite injury problems the past few seasons, Leonard has been relatively healthy this year and has been among the NBA’s top players. He has appeared in 47 games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals while splitting 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 90.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Questions surrounding Ivica Zubac’s debut with the Indiana Pacers will remain unanswered for at least one more game.

Indiana listed Zubac out with a left ankle sprain on its injury report Wednesday morning ahead of the team’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers begin a four-game West Coast road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm ET.

The injury designation means Zubac will not face his former team as he continues to work towards his first appearance since being acquired at the February trade deadline.

Indiana acquired the 28-year-old center from the Clippers in a landmark deal that also included Pacers-bound forward Kobe Brown. Los Angeles received a package centered on Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with two first-round picks in 2026 and 2029 and a future second-round pick.

Zubac was enjoying one of the most productive periods of his career before the trade. In 43 games with the Clippers this season, he averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line. He started 42 of those contests and recorded 30.9 minutes per game, becoming a consistent interior presence.

Ivica Zubac Pacers debut delayed as Benedict Mathurin moves on with Clippers

His most recent appearance came on February 2 in the Clippers’ 128–113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Zubac recorded eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 3-for-3 from the field in 33 minutes.

Indiana continues to wait for the veteran center to debut as it looks to stabilize a frontcourt that underwent major changes at the deadline. The Pacers enter Wednesday at 15-46 and are looking for consistency during the final stretch of the season.

Meanwhile, Mathurin has begun to carve out a role with the Clippers following the trade. The 23-year-old guard has averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in eight games with Los Angeles, shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line while playing 30.4 minutes per contest.

Mathurin recently contributed in the Clippers’ 114-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal while shooting 6 of 13 from the field and converting all five of his free-throw attempts in 31 minutes.

Although Zubac will not make his debut against his former team in Indiana, the Pacers expect him to eventually take on an interior role as the organization evaluates its new-shaped roster following the deadline trade.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – From the league’s investigation into starting the 2025-26 regular season to the shocking trades of James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the NBA trade deadline, this LA Clippers season has felt like two or three entire seasons rolled into one.

Elsewhere, the Clippers parted ways with a future Hall-of-Famer and the best player in franchise history in Chris Paul. Paul’s departure was a surprise to everyone in the league, drawing an outcry in support of Paul and heavy criticism for the Clippers, especially given the fact that it was his final season in the NBA.

After missing the NBA trade deadline and not being able to find a new home to finish the season, Chris Paul officially retired from the NBA at All-Star Weekend. This ended an illustrious 21-year NBA career and left only one member of the “Lob City Clippers”: DeAndre Jordan.

The center, playing in his 18th season in the NBA, is still going strong and is currently a starter for the New Orleans Pelicans.

In an exclusive interview following Paul’s retirement, Jordan told ClutchPoints that he is loyal to his former All-Star teammate.

“Oh, that’s my boy, man,” DeAndre Jordan says in an exclusive interview. “Chris helped my career tremendously, so no one can tell me anything bad about CP. He’s a Hall-of-Famer. He’s done a lot for this game. He’s helped a lot of young players, big guys, helped with IQ, you know. And then things off the court. He does a lot for kids and HBCU schools and everything. So it’s great to see him continue to be the same personality and life he has for people.”

Of the 243 teammates DeAndre Jordan shared the floor with during his 18-year NBA career, only Blake Griffin (543 games played) has played more games with Jordan than second-place Chris Paul (459 games played). The Jordan and Paul duo played in 406 regular season games in addition to 53 playoff games in six regular season games. The two had a .658 winning percentage, going 302–157 together in those 459 games.

Jordan is the player with whom Paul has played more games than anyone else in his 20-year NBA career, totaling 249 teammates.

With Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan all playing 338 games together, the Clippers compiled a 232–106 record (.686 winning percentage) while notching five consecutive 50-win seasons after the franchise had not recorded a single 50-win campaign in the previous 42 years.

That’s why stepping inside the Intuit Dome holds a special meaning for Jordan, who recognizes the enormity of the foundation laid by Paul, Griffin and himself from 2011-2017, despite never winning an NBA championship for the franchise.

Jordan said, “I mean, yes, obviously the three of us, but Steve Ballmer has done an amazing job with the organization, and the Clippers finally have their own arena, it’s good to see.” “It’s something we talked about for so long during my tenure here, spending 10 years here. But, you know, it’s cool, man. I love seeing Clippers Nation continue to grow and expand. That fan base that was amazing for my time here, and they continue to be amazing.”

Chris Paul joined the Clippers for his final season in the summer of 2025 with the understanding that he probably wouldn’t play much, but also that his tough leadership style would have to be reignited. The team struggled to start the season and, as they fell down the standings, league sources told ClutchPoints that Paul’s aggressive methods persisted to the extent that he got into a heated argument with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy over changing the defensive scheme mid-game. Paul was later seen looking visibly upset during the team’s flight to Miami a day before being sent home by the Clippers.

The way the Clippers moved on from Paul — their franchise legend, in the middle of a night, on a multi-game East Coast road trip — set off a lot of alarms for people around the league.

DeAndre Jordan believes that Chris Paul’s leadership style is very specific, and it is that style that he finds essential to his career.

“I think he’s amazing,” DeAndre Jordan told ClutchPoints. “Yeah, he’s gonna push you, he’s gonna challenge you to be the best player. He’s gonna bark at you. And you know, it’s his Napoleon complex. But I mean, sh*t, for me, I needed it. And some players need it. Some guys don’t want to be challenged, and that’s OK. But I think if you ask any player, they’d want CP on their team.”

With Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan developed into an NBA All-Star in the 2016–17 season, completing his six-year tenure with Paul earning two All-Defensive First Team selections, two All-NBA Third Team selections, an All-NBA First Team selection and a two-time rebounding champion, while being voted in the top four in Defensive Player of the Year voting three years in a row.

Chris Paul finished his NBA career playing 21 seasons and exactly 425 regular season games for both the Clippers and New Orleans Hornets franchises. Despite the rough ending to this season, the Clippers are hopeful that time will heal all wounds and they will one day be able to retire the jerseys of DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin inside the Intuit Dome.

“I’m happy with his career,” Jordan said. “I wish her ending would have been a little different, selfishly, obviously, but I’m sure she’s at peace with it.”

On Monday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a blowout loss at home to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors controlled the game for most of the season, but fell behind in the fourth quarter, trailing by 15 in the final frame and losing the game 114–101.

Now, things have gone from bad to worse with some tough news on the injury front regarding shooting guard Moses Moody.

Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter, “According to Steve Kerr, Moses Moody jammed his right wrist and hurt his shoulder.” “The Warriors will know more about his condition tomorrow.”

It’s a tough break for a Warriors team that was already weakened from an injury perspective, with Stephen Curry out for most of the last month with a knee injury, and Jimmy Butler already out for the year with a torn ACL.

Moody is enjoying a good season for the Warriors, hovering around 40 percent from beyond the arc throughout the campaign, and he’ll certainly be hoping these injuries aren’t too serious.

Currently, the Warriors are 31-30 on the season, and if the regular season ended today, they would be in the Western Conference play-in tournament for the third consecutive year.

Making matters more frustrating for Golden State is that recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team brought in from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga, has played just one game for the team as he battled an illness.

Kuminga, meanwhile, has had a great start to his tenure in Atlanta.

In any case, the Warriors next face off on Thursday evening when they hit the road to take on the Houston Rockets.

The reshuffled Los Angeles Clippers (27-30) host the surging Minnesota Timberwolves (36-23) on Thursday night for a primetime Western Conference clash at the Intuit Dome. The Clippers are on a two-game slump after losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic and have several names on the injury list.

According to the official report, Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness. The same is true for John Collins, who is dealing with a neck issue, while Darius Garland and Bradley Beal are both out.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Timberwolves

Despite scoring a big 37 points playing through an injury last time out against Orlando, Kawhi Leonard is a game-time decision. However, the Clippers are sitting precariously in the 10th and final play-in spot in the West, so the stakes are incredibly high.

Edwards has been a complete disappointment since winning All-Star Game MVP, averaging 34 points in his last three contests, including a 34-point masterclass in a 124-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Clippers desperately need their own talisman to perform well.

Led by Edwards (29.6 ppg), the Timberwolves boast the third-ranked scoring attack in the NBA with 119.6 points per game. On February 8, a healthy Leonard methodically destroyed the Timberwolves for 41 points in a 115–96 blowout.

Regardless, Minnesota has a clean bill of health for this game, with their only absence being due to a G League assignment. Therefore, a lot depends on whether the poet is suitable or not. The Timberwolves will look to get revenge any way they can, but Leonard’s presence could play a major role in deciding the contest.

shear injury report

• Kawhi Leonard: Doubtful (pain in left ankle)
• John Collins: Suspicious (head injury, neck pain)
• bradley beal: Outside (left hip; fracture)
• Darius Garland: Outside (left big toe; injury management)

timberwolves injury report

• Jules Bernard: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Enrique Freeman: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Rocco Zikarski: Out (G League – Two-Way)

The Orlando Magic (29-26) listed Jalen Suggs as questionable due to back spasms ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29). The game will begin at 9:00 PM ET on NBA TV and will be the second night of a back-to-back for Orlando.

Suggs was ruled out before Saturday’s 113-110 double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns. The 24-year-old guard last appeared in the Magic’s 131-94 win over the Sacramento Kings coming out of the All-Star break and starting their four-game road trip. In that contest, Suggs recorded nine points, three rebounds, three assists and one block while shooting 3-for-8 from the field and 3-for-7 from 3-point range in 20 minutes.

On the season, Suggs has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, four rebounds and a career-high 1.9 steals per game in 34 appearances. The former All-Defensive Second Team selection is shooting 44.2% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc while playing 26.5 minutes per contest.

The Magic’s injury report lists Franz Wagner out under injury management with a high ankle sprain. The team has indicated that Wagner will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Magic, Clippers deal with key injuries ahead of matchup

Orlando is entering Sunday’s contest intent on responding after its narrow loss in Phoenix, where the Magic forced the Suns into double overtime despite missing key contributors.

The Clippers are also managing injuries. John Collins has been listed out with a head injury and neck pain. Kawhi Leonard is questionable with a sore left ankle after Friday’s 125-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Additionally, Darius Garland – who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in exchange for James Harden – is out with left foot injury management as he recovers from a surgically repaired toe injury.

With both teams managing key absences, availability could prove crucial in the Magic’s effort to extend their 29-26 start as they continue their road trip.

The Los Angeles Lakers last faced the LA Clippers in the 2025–26 regular season, and as those matchups usually are, it also lost. And while LeBron James was there to close out the game, Kawhi Leonard was forced to leave late with an ankle injury.

James finished the night with 13 points, three rebounds and 11 assists on 5-of-13 shooting for the Lakers, who defeated the Clippers 125–122. Kawhi Leonard produced 31 points, four rebounds and five assists on 11-of-19 shooting in 31 minutes of play before departing with 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about Kawhi Leonard and his resiliency to come back from injury and perform at an All-Star level.

“Kawhi is amazing, man,” James said. “He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. And I couldn’t care less about injuries. Those things, you can’t control. You can only control the guys, and the things he’s controlling is how he comes back and how much perseverance he has every time.”

In 42 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the free throw line.

His strong play throughout the season, but especially since mid-December, has been a big reason why the Clippers have been able to climb out of the 6-21 hole they started the season with.

“He’s a – that guy is amazing,” LeBron James continued. “I swear. I have nothing but good things to say about Kawhi and the kind of basketball he’s been playing the last few months. I mean, he’s been the same for a season. I’m not surprised by this. On another note, I was disappointed on the 2024 Olympic team when he wasn’t able to go with us. I was hoping to make the team with the ‘Whee’ as well. I was a little disappointed about that when he had to deal with another injury. Spent some time with him, but listen, he’s great. He had 31 points in 12 minutes. Obviously, I could talk about him all night.”

I heard LeBron James speak incredibly highly of Kawhi Leonard when I asked him about the resiliency he saw in him:

“Kawhi is amazing, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. I couldn’t care less about injuries… That guy is amazing. I swear I don’t have anything… pic.twitter.com/GipDxoJRfX

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Kawhi Leonard has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, from a torn ACL to a torn meniscus, not to mention quad and knee inflammation difficulties, in recent years.

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have not played 40 games against each other – 28 in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs. Leonard has won 15 of those 28 regular season games and seven of those 12 playoff games.

James and his Miami Heat won the 2013 NBA Championship against Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard and his Spurs defeated James and his Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.

LOS ANGELES – After a late turnover-related mistake that gave the LA Clippers a chance to tie the game, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged with a 125-122 win after Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt. The entire game was a high-scoring affair, but according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the biggest play of the game came from Austin Reaves on the defensive end.

When the Clippers trailed by three, 118–115, with less than two minutes left in the game, Benedict Mathurin attacked the basket to cut the Lakers’ lead. But Austin Reaves beat him on the spot, putting a charge on the game and giving the Lakers some momentary relief.

Luka Doncic missed a clutch floater, and Austin Reeves took a charge from Benedict Mathurin at the other end, fouled out (the challenge was not successful).

with replay pic.twitter.com/mVKIwNXMhX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 21 February 2026

Reaves tried to draw another charge that was not called, and according to JJ Redick it would have been a game-defining play if it had gone the Lakers’ way.

“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Reddick said after the win. “Frankly, the other allegation was that if they had made the right call the game would have been played, which they didn’t…it was a huge play given the circumstances.”

The Clippers game was Reaves’ first game in the starting lineup since he returned from a calf injury. He was coming off the bench under a one-minute ban. At Lakers practice on Thursday afternoon, Redick acknowledged that Reaves will no longer be on a minutes restriction.

Reeves had another All-Star caliber effort with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. He shot a perfect 9 of 15 from the field, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.

“He was fantastic tonight,” Redick said. “Other than the two turnovers there and the third turnover in traffic, they just played a super efficient night.”

Coming into Friday’s game, Reeves had appeared in 28 games this season, a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Reeves was on pace to make his first All-Star appearance, but his unfortunate calf injury hindered his chances.

The Lakers currently have two more games to play at home, starting with a showdown against their historic rival at the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before heading out on the road to close out the month.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced the LA Clippers for the fourth and final time in the 2025-26 regular season, and it was another chance for Luka Doncic to play against a team he has struggled with more than any team in his career.

In their first game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers led by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, 41–27, thanks to Luka Doncic’s hot shooting start. In the first 12 minutes of the game, Doncic recorded 17 points, two rebounds and four assists, while shooting 6 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from three.

Doncic’s four assists led to a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers, meaning he accounted for 27 of the Lakers’ 41 points in the opening period.

Doncic’s 17-point first quarter marked the 30th time the guard recorded at least 10 points in a quarter against the Clippers. This is the 60th time that Doncic has recorded 10 or more points against the Clippers in a single quarter, including the regular season and postseason.

Tonight’s first quarter was the 60th time in Luka Doncic’s career that he recorded 10+ points in a quarter against the LA Clippers.

This was his 30th appearance in the regular season.

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

The only other player to have a quarter of 10 or more points against the Clippers is Kevin Durant, with 79 points. Doncic tied Stephen Curry’s 60 quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers.

What is the difference between the three? Durant is currently in his 18th season in the NBA, Stephen Curry is in his 17th season, and Doncic is only in his eighth season. By the time it’s all said and done, who knows how far up on that list Luka Doncic will be.

Additionally, Luka Doncic has the second-most points per game average of any player versus the Clippers franchise.

Doncic’s 32.1 points per game average against the Milwaukee Bucks trails only Michael Jordan’s 32.3 points per game. The next three highest points per game averages against a single franchise are also owned by Michael Jordan (32.0 vs. the Cavs, 32.0 vs. the Knicks, and 31.9 vs. the Knicks).

Luka Doncic is averaging 32.1 points per game against the LA Clippers.

This is the second-highest career points per game average of any player versus one franchise (regular season and postseason). pic.twitter.com/Bw2fVALr7w

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Entering Friday’s game, Luka Doncic had played 42 games against the LA Clippers, combining both the regular season and postseason. Their record in those games is 23-19.

When the Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac, they made it clear that they were rebuilding rather than completely rebuilding. Steve Ballmer invested nearly $2 billion in Intuit Dome, so he might not want to hit the reset button. Instead, the organization has added youth to the NBA’s oldest team. Newcomer Benedict Mathurin thrilled the crowd in LA’s first home game since the aforementioned trades, making history in a 115–114 win against the Denver Nuggets.

The former Indiana Pacers wing, who was included in the Zubac deal, scored a game-high 38 points in 34 minutes off the bench, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and recording five rebounds, four assists and three steals. According to ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarli, he set a new scoring record for a Clippers player debuting on his home field and also matched a career high. That was not all.

Appropriately, Mathurin passed Jamal Crawford for most points by a reserve in his LA debut. This squad has a new offensive spark plug, and he is only 23 years old. After making an impressive debut against the Houston Rockets last Wednesday, the young Canadian won over Clippers fans by outclassing several competitors, including Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray.

Benedict Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but it stands to reason Los Angeles will want to lock him up for the foreseeable future. Tyronn Lue’s team is now just one game below .500, and Darius Garland still isn’t in tune. Although it’s not what City had envisioned, there is certainly excitement in the air after this hard-fought victory.

Amid trade talks across the league, the Milwaukee Bucks, with All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in mind, have reportedly inquired about trading with the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard. In the final hours before the trade deadline, the Bucks were a last-minute contender for Leonard. The Clippers ultimately retained Kawhi for the remainder of the season, but his future beyond 2025–26 remains uncertain.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, a Clippers offseason trade for Leonard could still be on the horizon.

“There were two teams in particular that were pursuing Giannis that called the Clippers about Kawhi Leonard and checked on his availability,” Siegel said. “If he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided, he’s going to be entering the last year of his deal, I believe it’s something like $50.3 million.

“Regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. This is the last year of his contract. He can still be a big part on a championship team, even if years later. We saw what Kawhi Leonard can do.”

No one expected James Harden’s trade request in the midst of the team’s most successful regular season run. Then, the Clippers’ trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac prompted other teams to call about Leonard.

Could Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard return to Raptors?

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard was the subject of trade rumors before the deadline, and is expected to be the case once again during the offseason, as noted by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

Siegel said, “It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard, without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship.”

“Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, the Raptors’ return to competing for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.”

Perhaps trade talks will resume in the offseason between the Raptors, who were reportedly interested in Ivica Zubac over the summer, or perhaps there will be a call from the Bucks.

The Los Angeles Clippers may look like a completely different team than they did before the trade deadline, but Brian Shaw believes that’s a good thing.

Shaw is best known for his long playing career, which included winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The 59-year-old player has enjoyed a successful coaching career since retiring and has served as a Lakers assistant on two separate occasions. He has been an assistant for the Clippers since 2021.

The Clippers have clearly had difficulty enjoying postseason success in recent years despite being loaded with star power. In earlier years, they had the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George duo and more recently they had James Harden and Russell Westbrook. However, they have not been able to progress beyond the first round since Shaw’s arrival.

Los Angeles made a big move at the trade deadline, landing Harden, a 36-year-old star guard, for 26-year-old guard Darius Garland in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers entered the season with the oldest roster in the NBA at 30.7 years. Although they are much younger now, Shaw believes this will benefit the team as they look to advance to the postseason.

Los Angeles currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference and are playing for a play-in spot. Shaw talked about what Garland brings to the table.

“Darius can guess who you know. I coached Darius at the Nike Hoop Academy when he was in high school and just his agility, his basketball IQ, he’s a great passer, and he can score. There are players on our team that will benefit from him, being able to set the table for them, but also add to the youth and the agility that we have overall.

Shaw continued, “We started this season as the oldest team in NBA history.” “When you look at the fact that we started with Chris Paul and James Harden, we had a pretty old team. We were pretty slow, so now we feel like we can compete with these younger, faster, more athletic teams that are out there.”

Garland is one of the better, more established young guards in the league. The former fifth overall pick is a two-time All-Star selection and is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.

The 26-year-old player is still recovering from a right foot sprain injury and has not yet made his debut for the Clippers. That being said, Garland – along with Leonard – has a chance to lead the Clippers back to the playoffs. They have been a much stronger team recently, with Los Angeles going 20-6 since December 20.