Kawhi Leonard has 25 points, but the Clippers lose to the Knicks 123-111 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, snapping Los Angeles’ recent positive run.
Despite a strong performance from Leonard and the return of James Harden, the Clippers were unable to withstand a dominant fourth-quarter surge from New York, which used a balanced offensive attack to end its own four-game losing streak.
How Kawhi Leonard has 25 points but the Clippers lose to the Knicks in the fourth quarter
The key moment that confirmed Kawhi Leonard had 25 points but the Clippers lost to the Knicks was a 24-7 run in the third and fourth quarters.
With the Clippers leading 85-81 late in the third period, the Knicks settled in defensively and found their rhythm.
OG Anunoby (20 points) and Deuce McBride (16 points) provided crucial support, but it was Karl-Anthony Towns who fueled the separation.
Towns scored 10 of his 20 points in the final period, including a personal 5-0 spurt to start the quarter, turning a narrow Knicks lead into a commanding 105-92 lead from which the Clippers were never able to recover.
The supporting cast surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s 25-point performance
While Kawhi Leonard has 25 points, the Clippers’ loss to the Knicks highlights the star’s performance. He received remarkable support.
James Harden, returning from a shoulder injury, contributed 23 points and 9 assists.
Center Ivica Zubac posted a strong double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
However, the Clippers’ defense, which had played a crucial role during the 7-2 period, began to falter.
They allowed the Knicks to shoot over 50% from the field and were unable to contain Towns in the paint or on the glass, where he grabbed 11 rebounds and added a season-high 7 assists.
Knicks’ most important accomplishments beyond the box score
The Knicks’ win was a testament to their resilience and ball movement.
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 26 points and orchestrated the offense efficiently.
After a passive 6-point performance in Detroit, Towns was aggressively involved from the start, supporting others and taking his shots when available.
The team’s 24-7 run featured unselfish play and stifling defense, holding the Clippers to just two field goals over a critical seven-minute period.
This combined effort negated Leonard’s efficient scoring and made it clear that the Clippers lacked consistent secondary scoring beyond their top three options.
What this loss means for the future of the Clippers
The result, highlighting Kawhi Leonard having 25 points but the Clippers losing to the Knicks, is a setback for a team trying to build consistency.
The Clippers’ early 14-5 lead proved unsustainable as their bench was outplayed.
The loss leaves them at just 13-23, highlighting the ongoing gap between their top talent and the overall strength of their squad.
For the Knicks, the win stabilizes a difficult stretch and shows that they can still compete at a high level when their key players, especially Towns, are fully committed and engaged in multiple facets of the game.
Sources:
This game recap is based on the official NBA box score and postgame coverage from ESPN.
Check out the full box score and highlights: ESPN game recap