INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Although both the Knicks and Clippers didn't shoot over 43% on Friday night, the Clippers prevailed with a 105-95 win against a New York squad that was missing Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson.
The Clippers were once again without Norman Powell and Ben Simmons, but James Harden had 27 points on 7-20 shooting and 5-12 from beyond the arc.
HARD3N with the range 👌👌👌👌👌👌 pic.twitter.com/OBOKsXhqRx
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 8, 2025
Kawhi Leonard made his return after the absence on the second night of the back-to-back on Wednesday, and although the numbers were inefficient, he reached the 20 point mark and had 2 steals.
Kawhi gettin' to his spot 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/GBpDpM8yan
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 8, 2025
The Knicks were locked down to 38.5% from the field without their superstar Jalen Brunson. Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges both had 20 point games and the entire starting lineup for the Knicks was in double figures in the points department, but the Clippers played excellent defense in the second half to give them a cushion.
If there was an unsung hero of the game for the Clippers however, it was the play of Nicolas Batum that kept them either in the game or ahead.
"We stick together. That was a good team win."- Nicolas Batum pic.twitter.com/oYJWSd0wIg
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 8, 2025
Batum had 17 points in 34 minutes on 6-9 from the field and an impressive 5-7 from 3 with excellent perimeter defense on the wings of the Knicks.
The Clippers need to stack these wins as much as possible, especially with the madness that is the Western Conference, as they sit in the 8th seed with the Sacramento Kings, who are right behind them in the standings, playing them on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 6:40 PM PST.