The Clippers hold off the Knicks, 105-95, maintaining their playoff push
Los Angeles Clippers #1 James Harden scored 27 points against the New York Knicks at the Intuit Dome. Photo by Deangelo Scruggs /TGSportstv1 March 7, 2025.
INGLEWOOD, CA – The Los Angeles Clippers (34-29) secured a crucial 105-95 victory against the visiting New York Knicks (40-23) on Friday night, maintaining their playoff position in the competitive Western Conference.
The Knicks, reeling from an overtime loss to the Lakers and dealing with the absence of injured star Jalen Brunson, had their struggles offensively but kept the game relatively tight. The Knicks shot 38% from the field (35 of 91) and 26% from the three-point line (9 of 34).
"They're a very good defensive team, It was a hard-fought game; we came up short in the end." Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau stated post-game, praising the Clippers' defense.
Los Angeles established an early advantage, with James Harden leading the charge, scoring 27 points. Kawhi Leonard contributed 20 points, and Ivica Zubac anchored the paint with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Clippers displayed strong perimeter shooting, connecting on 15 of 38 three-point attempts (39.5%). Nicholas Batum and James Harden both contributed significantly, each sinking 5 three-pointers.
New York Knicks #32 Karl-Anthony Towns (C) drive to the basket is challenged by the Los Angeles Clippers #3 Nicolas Batum (PF) at the Intuit Dome. Photo by Deangelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 March 7, 2025.
Despite the Knicks' efforts, led by Karl-Anthony Towns's 23 points and 10 rebounds and Mikal Bridges's 22 points, all unable to overcome the Clippers' balanced attack. Josh Hart also had a standout performance grabbing a career-high 20 rebounds while scoring 14 points.
The Knicks outscored the Clippers 24-19, narrowing the gap to a slim 79-78 lead for Los Angeles entering the final period. However, the Clippers responded decisively in the fourth, opening with a six-point run and ultimately outscoring the Knicks 26-17 to close the game.
"Overall, I thought we did a really good job defensively, paying attention to the game and understanding what we were trying to do. You know they're a tough team, even with Brunson being out. They still played hard; they competed and have a lot of good players over there, and they're well-coached, so this was a big win for us." Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue said post-game.
The Clippers' victory comes at a critical juncture in the season as they strive to solidify their playoff standing with five weeks remaining. The Knicks, on the other hand, continue their challenging Western Conference road trip, now facing three consecutive losses.
The Clippers will look to build on this momentum as they host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Knicks will seek to rebound as they travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Monday.