The Los Angeles Clippers extended their midseason momentum by narrowly defeating the Sacramento Kings 114-111 on Friday at the Golden 1 Center. This victory marked the first game of a four-match road trip and came amid significant roster changes, including the recent trade of James Harden to Cleveland.
Despite missing Harden and center Ivica Zubac, the Clippers relied on contributions across their lineup, with superstar Kawhi Leonard playing a central role in sealing the win. Trailing 27-17 after the opening quarter, Los Angeles outperformed Sacramento in the remaining three periods to secure the comeback victory and improve their season record to 24-27. Meanwhile, the Kings fell to 12-41, enduring their 11th straight loss.
Kawhi Leonard’s All-Around Performance Drives the Team
Kawhi Leonard was the standout player throughout the game, delivering 31 points on 9-of-19 shooting, along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Leonard demonstrated exceptional efficiency by converting all 12 of his free throws and continues to shoulder one of the heaviest offensive burdens in the league. He currently leads the NBA in steals per game and ranks seventh in scoring with a career-best average of 27.6 points per game.
With Harden no longer on the squad and guard Garland sidelined due to a toe injury, Leonard took on increased playmaking responsibilities. His seven assists helped the Clippers maintain a fluid offense, resulting in a 52.1 percent field goal accuracy as a team. Defensively, Leonard’s impact was evident as Sacramento was limited to just 27 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
“Kawhi is foolin with the handle nowpic.twitter.com/POrgycpz67 https://t.co/2bCiqrEfbM” — Jamal Cristopher
Balanced Scoring Among Starters Supports the Win
One notable factor in the win was the scoring balance across the Clippers’ starting lineup, with each of the five starters reaching double digits. This depth has become vital following Harden’s departure. John Collins led the supporting cast with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding seven rebounds and two blocks. His recent stretch of efficient shooting, exceeding 60 percent from the floor in multiple games, has been a key part of the team’s resurgence.
Brook Lopez contributed 15 points and nine rebounds while blocking three shots, Kris Dunn added 15 points along with five assists, and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. This collective effort reflects the level of balanced production that has energized the Clippers throughout their turnaround.
“Kings are terrible, but this was still a high character win by the Clippers on the road before any of their new guys are active, 114-111 in SAC. Kawhi with a familiar Kristina Pink post game interview, 31/9/7. Collins 22/7, Brook & Dunn 15 apiece, DJ w/ 13. Wolves noon Sunday.” — The Lob, The Jam, The Podcast
Remarkable Recovery Following a Difficult Start to the Season
The Clippers’ recent success comes after a troubling start to their season, when they began with a 6-21 record and appeared to be among the league’s weakest teams. Since then, Los Angeles has gone 18-6 over their last 24 games, the highest winning percentage across the NBA for that span.
“Over the last 24 games, the Clippers are 18-6.That’s the best 24-game stretch in NBA history after being 15+ games below .500 pic.twitter.com/ARATq7KENp” — Underdog
The NBA editorial team has called this surge
a turnaround like none other in the NBA,
noting only two other teams in history reached the playoffs after such a poor start. Despite losses earlier this week to Philadelphia and Cleveland, the Clippers’ narrow road victory on Friday highlighted their resilience and Leonard’s ability to carry the team in critical moments.
Upcoming Challenges as the Road Trip Continues
Looking ahead, the Clippers will face a tougher opponent on Sunday, visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves, who currently hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 32-21 record. This matchup will be a significant test of Los Angeles’s continued progress and Leonard’s leadership as they attempt to build on their recent winning stretch during this pivotal phase of the season.
Ivica Zubac shares several photos and a heartfelt message following his trade from the Clippers.
“This is one of the toughest moments in my life…” pic.twitter.com/ZdkXZkkGCP
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 6, 2026
Kawhi is foolin with the handle nowpic.twitter.com/POrgycpz67 https://t.co/2bCiqrEfbM
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) February 7, 2026
Kings are terrible, but this was still a high character win by the Clippers on the road before any of their new guys are active, 114-111 in SAC. Kawhi with a familiar Kristina Pink post game interview, 31/9/7. Collins 22/7, Brook & Dunn 15 apiece, DJ w/ 13. Wolves noon Sunday.
— The Lob, The Jam, The Podcast (@TheLobTheJamPod) February 7, 2026
Over the last 24 games, the Clippers are 18-6.
That’s the best 24-game stretch in NBA history after being 15+ games below .500 pic.twitter.com/ARATq7KENp
— Underdog (@Underdog) February 7, 2026
