NBA: Hot shooting in 3rd quarter lifts Clippers past Knicks
LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) reacts with James Harden after making a basket in front of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 56 points as the Los Angeles Clippers rode a 16-of-30 3-point shooting performance to knock off the host New York Knicks 126-113 in the NBA on Wednesday.
After trailing for the entire first half, and by as many as 14 points, Los Angeles (41-31) erased the deficit by hitting 8 of 11 3-pointers in the third quarter. The Clippers outscored the Knicks 32-10 from midway through the third into the first four minutes of the fourth quarter en route to a 19-point lead.
Los Angeles hit 24 of 42 field goals overall in the second half, compared with New York’s 18-of-40 clip, to flip control of the game.
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The Knicks (45-27) battled back in the fourth quarter, cutting the 19-point deficit down to eight with 1:34 remaining. Norman Powell snuffed out New York’s comeback effort with the last of Los Angeles’ 3-pointers, sinking a triple with 1:12 left to put the game away.
Ivica Zubac provided an exclamation point on his 18-point, 10-rebound double-double with a dunk on the next possession.
Harden showed no ill effects from a foot injury sustained on Sunday vs. Oklahoma City, pacing the Clippers’ 3-point barrage by hitting 6 of 9 from beyond the arc on the way to 29 points. He added six rebounds and six assists.
Leonard flirted with a triple-double, going for 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, marking his seventh straight game scoring at least 23 points. Powell shot 4-of-5 from 3-point distance and finished with 19 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with game-highs of 34 points and 14 rebounds. O.G. Anunoby scored 28 points and Mikal Bridges finished with 17 points and nine assists.
The Knicks played without Jalen Brunson for the 10th consecutive game, falling to 5-5 over that stretch.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has won six of seven and nine of its last 11 as the Clippers jockey for position in a tight Western Conference playoff race. –Field Level Media
