The Los Angeles Clippers showed their playoff intent with a commanding performance against the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard set the tone, but the night belonged to a balanced team effort, Yankee Scores reports.
Clippers stay hot in playoff chase
Leonard scored 27 points, while Darius Garland added 24 in a 119-94 victory on Wednesday night in Inglewood. Bennedict Mathurin chipped in 23 off the bench, and Brook Lopez scored 14, with 11 coming in the opening quarter to spark the early surge.
The Clippers have now won three straight, keeping a half-game lead over Portland for eighth in the Western Conference.
That’s three wins in a row! 📈
Kawhi Leonard | 27 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
Darius Garland | 24 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST
Benedict Mathurin | 23 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST
Brook Lopez | 14 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL, 5 BLK
Isaiah Jackson | 12 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/M6r6K5ABwT
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 26, 2026
Raptors struggle to keep pace
Brandon Ingram led Toronto with 18 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13. However, the Raptors dropped their third consecutive game, slipping to sixth in the East—one game behind Atlanta and just a half-game ahead of Philadelphia.
Toronto’s missed opportunities proved costly. Despite grabbing 10 offensive rebounds in the second quarter, they shot just 14.3% from the free-throw line (1-for-7).
Key moments define the night
Lopez’s hot start helped Los Angeles outscore Toronto 23-9 over the final 6:10 of the first quarter, opening a 14-point lead. The Raptors cut the deficit with an 11-1 run in the second, but Garland’s deep three at the third-quarter buzzer restored momentum.
The Clippers dominated at the line, going 19-for-24 and outscoring Toronto by 15 points there. Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, who finished with 10 points, briefly left after a cut near his left eye but returned.
What’s next
Toronto will host the Pelicans on Friday night, while the Clippers head to Indiana to face the Pacers.
With Leonard leading the charge and Garland providing firepower, the Clippers look ready to push further up the Western standings.
