Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and Bennedict Mathurin delivered 28 off the bench as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the New York Knicks 126-118 on Monday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The victory lifted Los Angeles to 32-32, marking the first time the team has reached .500 since early November after opening the season with a 6-21 stretch.
Leonard continued his scoring consistency with his 42nd straight game of at least 20 points, which stands as the second-longest active streak in the NBA and the third-longest in franchise history.
The Clippers built the foundation early by knocking down four consecutive three-pointers to open the game and controlled most of the first half.
Leonard ignited a scoring burst late in the second quarter by scoring 10 straight points, while Karl-Anthony Towns responded with eight consecutive points for New York during a brief offensive duel.
Los Angeles carried a 64-55 lead into halftime after maintaining efficient perimeter shooting and limiting turnovers.
Darius Garland provided additional playmaking in his second start for the Clippers, finishing with 23 points and seven assists while making five three-pointers.
Mathurin shifted the game after halftime with a strong offensive stretch, scoring 22 of his 28 points in the second half while attacking the rim and converting free throws.
Los Angeles placed five players in double figures, with Derrick Jones Jr. adding 16 points and Brook Lopez contributing 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Clippers shot 46 percent from the field and converted 18 of 39 attempts from three-point range, which created spacing against New York’s defense.
Towns delivered one of the most efficient performances of the night for the Knicks, finishing with 35 points on 13-of-17 shooting along with 12 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in the closing seconds.
Jalen Brunson added 28 points and eight assists, while OG Anunoby scored 22 points and Josh Hart grabbed 13 rebounds.
New York trimmed a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter with a 17-9 run fueled by Brunson, cutting the margin to 88-81 entering the fourth.
The Knicks continued to apply pressure and closed within five points three times during the final four minutes.
Los Angeles responded with execution in the final two minutes, highlighted by Mathurin converting a three-point play and Jones knocking down a key three-pointer to secure the result.
The Knicks finished the night shooting 51 percent from the field but were unable to overcome the Clippers’ perimeter shooting and late-game efficiency.
New York, which sits third in the Eastern Conference at 41-25, has now lost three of its last four games and has not won in Los Angeles against the Clippers since 2022.
Los Angeles will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while the Knicks continue their road trip against the Utah Jazz the same night.
