Game ID: 22401056
LA Clippers @ New York Knicks
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 33 22 29 29 113LAC 20 34 40 32 126
LAC @ NYK ScoutingLAC @ NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NYK availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 5 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 4 since 3/10, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 3 since 3/12, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 14)
NEW McBride 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/20 · back-to-backOUT Brunson missed 6 since 3/07, out tonight
BACK Tucker back 3/19 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 16)
BACK Wright back 3/10 after 7, 4 min since (28% of 14)
NEW McBride 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 7 since 3/07, out tonight
BACK Tucker back 3/19 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 16)
BACK Wright back 3/19 after 3, 2 min since (13% of 14)
NEW McBride 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/25 · 2 days' restOUT Brunson missed 8 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 2 since 3/20, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 14)
NEW McBride 24 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Shamet 14 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/26 · back-to-backOUT Brunson missed 9 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 3 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/19 after 3, 3 min since (19% of 14)
NEW Payne 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 10 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 3 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 4 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/19 after 3, 6 min since (42% of 14)
NEW Payne 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 11 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 4 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 5 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/25 after 2, 15 min since (110% of 14)
NEW Payne 14 to 23 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 12 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 5 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 6 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Payne missed 2 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/25 after 2, 20 min since (145% of 14)
NYK availability going into 4/02 · back-to-backOUT Brunson missed 13 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 6 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 7 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Payne missed 3 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/25 after 2, 23 min since (164% of 14)
NEW Shamet 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 7 since 3/04, returns tonight: 23 min (69% of 33)
BACK Jones Jr. back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Simmons back 3/14 after 7, 17 min since (119% of 15)
BACK Miller back 3/12 after 3, 7 min since (67% of 11)
NEW Batum 18 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/16 after 7, 23 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Simmons back 3/14 after 7, 16 min since (110% of 15)
NEW Batum 18 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Miller missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/16 after 7, 20 min since (61% of 33)
BACK Simmons back 3/14 after 7, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 4 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/16 after 7, 22 min since (68% of 33)
BACK Simmons back 3/14 after 7, 15 min since (100% of 15)
LAC availability going into 3/26 · 2 days' restOUT Miller missed 5 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/16 after 7, 25 min since (75% of 33)
BACK Simmons back 3/14 after 7, 15 min since (100% of 15)
LAC availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 6 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/16 after 7, 26 min since (79% of 33)
LAC availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 7 since 3/14, out tonight
LAC availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Miller missed 8 since 3/14, out tonight
LAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 9 since 3/14, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Towns at 27 and Anunoby at 21 a game. Without Brunson (9 straight), McBride (2 straight), Tucker (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 25 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and New York minus-2 and the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it the Clippers 113, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
3/19 @ SAS 105-120 — NYK notes
NYK lost 105-120. NYK shot 42% (39 of 92) to SAS's 50%, 11 of 37 from three. Towns led with 32 (11 of 21, 2 of 5 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Anunoby added 14, Bridges 14. Q3 was theirs, 29-16, the deficit cut from 24 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 104-76 against them. Hart's -26 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 @ CHA 98-115 — NYK notes
NYK lost 98-115. NYK shot 40% (36 of 90) to CHA's 49%, 10 of 39 from three. The glass went 38-52 against them. Anunoby led with 25 (7 of 19, 3 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Towns added 24, M. Bridges 16. Q2 was theirs, 25-27, but the other 3 periods went 88-73 against them. Anunoby's -17 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/22 vs WAS 122-103 — NYK notes
NYK won 122-103. NYK shot 48% (44 of 91) to WAS's 44%, 13 of 35 from three, and went to the line 27 times to WAS's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. NYK turned it over 14 times to WAS's 20. Towns led with 31 (10 of 20, 1 of 5 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Bridges added 27, Anunoby 23. The hinge was Q2, 35-20: a lead of 10 became 25, and the lead reached 33. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/25 vs DAL 128-113 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-113. NYK shot 60% (53 of 89) to DAL's 54%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DAL's 25. Anunoby led with 35 (15 of 24, 3 of 6 from three); Towns added 26, Bridges 21. The hinge was Q3, 30-16: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/26 vs LAC 113-126 — NYK notes
NYK lost 113-126. NYK shot 50% (42 of 84) to LAC's 51%, 13 of 34 from three. Towns led with 34 (11 of 20, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Anunoby added 28, Bridges 17. Q1 was theirs, 33-20, but the other 3 periods went 106-80 against them. They led by as many as 14. Shamet's -29 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 28 and Lopez at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Lillard (4 straight), Portis (19 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Towns at 29 and Anunoby at 25 a game. Without Brunson (10 straight), McBride (3 straight), Tucker (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been minus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-10 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 107 a night to New York's 115. Call it Milwaukee 114, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
3/30 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Anunoby at 28 and Towns at 26 a game. Without Brunson (11 straight), McBride (4 straight), Tucker (5 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Grant (9 straight), Ayton (20 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and New York plus-0. Call it New York 117, Portland 112.
4/01 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Anunoby at 29 and Bridges at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Brunson (12 straight), McBride (5 straight), Tucker (6 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grimes at 21 and Edwards at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (15 straight), Oubre Jr. (10 straight), Lowry (23 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-4 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the defense, New York allowing 108 a night to Philadelphia's 122. Call it New York 119, Philadelphia 108, New York by 11.
4/02 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 19 a game. Without Jerome (3 straight). 2 days' rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Anunoby at 30 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Brunson (13 straight), McBride (6 straight), Tucker (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 106 a night to Cleveland's 115 and the line, where Cleveland takes 25 free throws a game to New York's 19. Call it Cleveland 118, New York 112.
3/16 vs CHA 123-88 — LAC notes
LAC won 123-88. LAC shot 48% (45 of 93) to CHA's 39%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 23 times to CHA's 9 — 20 points from the stripe to their 8. The glass went 58-44 for them. Harden led with 31 (9 of 15, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Leonard added 23, Zubac 17. The hinge was Q2, 33-20: a lead of 11 became 24, and the lead reached 38. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
3/18 vs CLE 132-119 — LAC notes
LAC won 132-119. LAC shot 55% (46 of 84) to CLE's 49%, 16 of 35 from three. The glass went 49-29 for them. Leonard led with 33 (12 of 19, 5 of 6 from three); Zubac added 28, Harden 22. The hinge was Q3, 38-29: LAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 4. LAC trailed 68-73 at the half and won the second half 64-46. Bogdanović was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/21 vs MEM 128-108 — LAC notes
LAC won 128-108. LAC shot 58% (45 of 78) to MEM's 42%, 17 of 34 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MEM's 13 — 21 points from the stripe to their 9. Harden led with 30 (8 of 14, 5 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Leonard added 23, Zubac 17. The hinge was Q3, 36-16: LAC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 20. LAC trailed 60-66 at the half and won the second half 68-42. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/23 vs OKC 101-103 — LAC notes
LAC lost 101-103. LAC shot 43% (35 of 82) to OKC's 40%, 8 of 26 from three, and went to the line 28 times to OKC's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. LAC turned it over 14 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Leonard led with 25 (10 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Harden added 17, Zubac 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-24, but the other 3 periods went 79-67 against them. They led by as many as 12. Jones Jr.'s -11 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/26 @ NYK 126-113 — LAC notes
LAC won 126-113. LAC shot 51% (45 of 88) to NYK's 50%, 16 of 30 from three. Harden led with 29 (8 of 16, 6 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Leonard added 27, Powell 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-22: the deficit went from 13 to 1, and the lead reached 19. LAC trailed 54-55 at the half and won the second half 72-58. Jones Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/28 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 111, shooting 41 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 16 and Russell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Thomas (7 straight), Evbuomwan (15 straight), Etienne (12 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the arc, the Clippers at 46 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it the Clippers 113, Brooklyn 105.
3/30 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Jerome at 18 a game. Without Jerome (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 47 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Harden at 23 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 47 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-1. Call it Cleveland 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/31 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Banchero at 30 and Wagner at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Anthony (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 23 a game. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Orlando's 35 and the defense, Orlando allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 110. Call it Orlando 111, the Clippers 108, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/02 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Hawkins at 13 and Brown at 12 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to the Clippers' 12 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to New Orleans's 115. Call it the Clippers 117, New Orleans 106, the Clippers by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKCP C. Payne
DW D. Wright
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Beauchamp
MB M. Bridges
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
TK T. Kolek
LACBB B. Bogdanović
BS B. Simmons
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
NYK/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Clippers prevent Knicks from clinching a playoff spot with 126-113 victory
NEW YORK -- — James Harden had 29 points, six rebounds and six assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and the Los Angeles Clippers prevented the New York Knicks from clinching a playoff berth with a 126-113 victory Wednesday night.
Norman Powell added 19 points and Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who improved to 41-31 and tied Golden State for sixth place in the Western Conference, the final guaranteed postseason place.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who were looking to follow Cleveland and Boston and become the third team to wrap up a spot in the East.
The Knicks started impressively on the second night of a back-to-back, going 8 for 9 en route to an 18-5 lead. But the Clippers blew by them with a 16-3 run to end the third quarter and broke it open in the fourth.
Takeaways Clippers: Los Angeles bounced back from a loss to Oklahoma City that snapped its five-game winning streak and got off to a good start on a four-game road trip as it tries to avoid the play-in tournament.
Knicks: The Knicks fell to 5-5 without Jalen Brunson (sprained right ankle) and are running out of point guards. Deuce McBride, his original replacement, was out with a strained left groin and Cam Payne missed the second half after spraining his right ankle while scoring 15 points in the first half.
Key moment With the Clippers down 81-78, Harden scored their next 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers, to power the 16-3 finish to the third quarter.
Key stat A night after his first triple-double with the Knicks, Towns had his 18th game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, tying Patrick Ewing for third-most in a season by a Knicks player.
Up next The Clippers stay in New York to visit Brooklyn on Friday. The Knicks visit Milwaukee on Friday.