Yesterday afternoon, the Knicks Knicks (41*-24) laid an egg in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers. Tonight brings an opportunity for redemption as they problem the Clippers (31-32) at the Intuit Dome.
Over their final ten video games, each New York and the Clips have gone 6-4. They final met on January 7, when the ‘Bockers won 123-111 on their home court. Jalen Brunson led New York with 26 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added a 20-11 double-double. Kawhi Leonard paced the Clippers with 25 points.
After starting 6-21, L.A. has gone 25-11, including two wins over Detroit. On the whole, though, they’ve carried out to expectation, successful the video games they need to and dropping those they shouldn’t. They nonetheless have a bona fide celebrity, although: the notoriously unavailable Kawhi Leonard has sprung to life, main the group with 27.9 factors per sport on 50/37 capturing splits.
Offensively, they rank twelfth in ranking regardless of rating twenty fourth in scoring (112.6 PPG). Blame their glacial tempo (twenty eighth) and horrible rebounding (twenty eighth). Defensively, they’re barely worse than middle-of-the-pack (nineteenth).
We needed to double-check who’s nonetheless on the roster. At the commerce deadline, L.A. dealt James Harden for Darius Garland (a satisfying rhyme), then shipped Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to Indiana for Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson. Both strikes added draft picks to their warchest. They additionally parted methods with franchise icon Chris Paul after he misplaced a noogie contest with coach Ty Lue.
The Clippers have been below a darkish cloud all season, with league self-discipline anticipated. The controversy stems from Pablo Torre’s reporting that the group (allegedly) funneled compensation to Kawhi Leonard by no-show positions at an organization known as Aspiration to be able to circumvent the wage cap. The downside goes all the best way to the highest. Team proprietor Steve Ballmer, who as soon as mentioned that the Apple iPhone had “no chance” of getting important market share, now claims to have been conned out of hundreds of thousands by Aspiration. It appears that someplace alongside the road, Steve’s Smart Water was changed with Poland Spring.
The dangerous press has tarnished a terrific season for the 34-year-old Leonard. He’s represented by Uncle Dennis, a graduate of the Anthony Soprano School of Sports Management. Less refined than most brokers, Dennis is the sort of man whose most popular enterprise stationery is a McDonald’s receipt. So far, the league has been quietly investigating, however we count on commissioner Adam Silver to deliver the hammer down in the course of the summer season break.
Tonight, the Clippers will probably begin Garland, Dunn, Derrick Jones, Jr., Leonard, and Brook Lopez. Their damage report lists John Collins as OUT with a neck concern. For the Knicks, Miles McBride continues to be recovering from hernia surgical procedure. Mitchell Robinson performed yesterday, so count on him to take a seat tonight.
ESPN calls this one a toss up. They will need to have watched yesterday’s catastrophe, too. The Knicks must be favored, however their inconsistency makes the bettors skittish and fatigue may hinder them (Brunson logged 42 minutes yesterday). New York ought to be capable of management the paint, rule the glass in opposition to these poor rebounders, and maintain Leonard within the 25- to 30-point vary. In a sport with plenty of runs and lags, the Knicks discover the desire to win and scratch out a 5-point victory.
Who: New York Knicks (41*-24) at Los Angeles Clippers (31-32)
Date: Monday, March 9, 2026
Time: 9 PM ET
Place: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be yet one more, however NBA Cup wins soften in your mouth, not in your hand.
