In a thrilling finish, the Los Angeles Clippers narrowly defeated the Sacramento Kings 101-100 on Friday night at Golden 1 Center. Despite a late-game surge by Sacramento, the Clippers were able to hold on to a hard-earned victory, thanks to a stellar performance by Kawhi Leonard, who led his team with 28 points.
Leonard’s 28-point effort was critical for Los Angeles, as he scored 20 points in the first half alone. The Clippers had a comfortable lead for most of the game, but Sacramento mounted a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to just two points at 100-98 with just over a minute remaining.
James Harden also contributed significantly, registering a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Ivica Zubac added a double-double of his own, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Norman Powell chipped in with 16 points.
Despite the Clippers’ strong early lead, the Kings fought back with intensity. Zach LaVine led the charge for Sacramento, finishing with 26 points, while Domantas Sabonis added 19 points and 16 rebounds. Sabonis continued his remarkable consistency, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to record 60 or more double-doubles in three consecutive seasons.
The Kings had a chance to steal the game in the final moments. After LaVine made two free throws to pull Sacramento within one point with 3.9 seconds left, the Kings stole the Clippers’ inbounds pass. However, DeMar DeRozan’s contested three-pointer at the buzzer missed the mark, and the Clippers held on for the win.
The Clippers’ victory, coupled with Denver’s 49-32 record, has them tied for the fourth spot in the Western Conference with one regular-season game remaining.
