James Harden scored 29 points with six rebounds and six assists as the Los Angeles Clippers secured a 126-113 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Kawhi Leonard added 27 points to help Los Angeles (41-31) prevent New York (45-27) from clinching a playoff spot.
Norman Powell contributed 19 points, while Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers, now tied with Golden State for sixth in the Western Conference, strengthened their position for a guaranteed playoff berth.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 34 points and 13 rebounds. The Knicks, aiming to join Boston and Cleveland as the third Eastern Conference team to secure a postseason spot, started strong but faltered in the second half.
New York opened the game on an 18-5 run, shooting 8-for-9, but the Clippers responded with a decisive 16-3 surge to close the third quarter. Harden fueled the rally by scoring 11 straight points, including three three-pointers.
The Knicks, playing without Jalen Brunson due to a sprained right ankle, fell to 5-5 in his absence. Backup point guards Deuce McBride (groin) and Cam Payne (ankle) were also unavailable, leaving New York shorthanded in the backcourt.
Towns recorded his 18th game of the season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, tying Patrick Ewing for the third-most such performances in a single campaign by a Knicks player.
Los Angeles shot 51.1% from the field and 53.3% from beyond the arc. The Clippers’ bench, led by Derrick Jones Jr.’s 12 points, outscored New York’s reserves 24-12.
New York will look to secure a playoff spot in its next outing, while Los Angeles continues its road trip as the battle for seeding in the West intensifies.
