Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland Lead the Clippers to a Strong Win Against the Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Los Angeles Clippers secured a narrow 123-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, driven by a standout performance from Kawhi Leonard, who scored 28 points. Darius Garland contributed significantly as well, notching 21 points—11 of which came in the crucial fourth quarter.
In addition to Leonard and Garland, Bennedict Mathurin demonstrated his impact on the game with a double-double, tallying 21 points and 10 rebounds. Derrick Jones Jr. added 16 points, helping the Clippers achieve their fourth win in five games, despite a season-low four successful three-pointers.
On the opposing side, Ty Jerome led the Grizzlies with 23 points and seven assists. Taylor Hendricks and Cedric Coward supported with 18 and 15 points, respectively, as Memphis faced its third consecutive defeat.
The game was closely contested throughout. The Grizzlies held a slim 118-117 advantage with about two minutes remaining. However, Leonard and Jordan Miller each sank a pair of free throws, enabling the Clippers to take a 121-118 lead. Mathurin’s two free throws—just 4.4 seconds from the end—cemented the victory, while Jerome’s final attempt from beyond the arc fell short.
Currently, the Clippers are positioned at 31-32, marking a significant turnaround from a 15-game deficit earlier in the season, placing them ninth in the competitive Western Conference and in contention for a playoff spot.
In contrast, the Grizzlies’ campaign has been severely impacted by injuries. Six players were sidelined for Saturday’s game, including guard Ja Morant, who is out with a left elbow ulnar collateral ligament sprain, marking his 20th missed game.
Before the matchup, Morant expressed his commitment to the franchise, even highlighting a tattoo of the Grizzlies logo on his back as a symbol of his loyalty.
While Memphis started strong with a 19-point lead early in the first half, the advantage quickly dwindled. Struggling with shooting accuracy and committing 10 turnovers in the second quarter, the Grizzlies allowed Leonard to score 15 points, resulting in a tight halftime score of 59-58 in favor of Memphis.
