The New York Knicks' California trip ended on a sour note as they fell to the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-118, completing a tough back-to-back sweep against the LA teams.
Tough Times in LA
The Knicks were riding high after winning four out of five games, including a dominant 39-point win over the Denver Nuggets. However, the momentum didn't carry over to Los Angeles.
First, they stumbled against the Lakers, who were missing LeBron James, and then couldn't find their footing against the Clippers. The Knicks never led by more than a point in the game against the Clippers and now head to Utah looking to snap a two-game skid before wrapping up their road trip in Indiana.
Kawhi's Command Performance
Kawhi Leonard was a constant thorn in the Knicks' side, delivering an all-around performance with 29 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Shooting 52.6% from the field and perfect from the free-throw line, Leonard also contributed defensively with two steals.
He had plenty of help, as Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin joined the scoring spree, combining with Leonard for 80 points. In total, five Clippers players hit double figures, making it a tough night for New York's defense.
Towns Shines, But It's Not Enough
Karl-Anthony Towns was a standout for the Knicks, putting up a game-high 35 points and flirting with a triple-double by adding 12 rebounds and seven assists. He was incredibly efficient, hitting 76.5% of his shots and going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Jalen Brunson added 28 points, and OG Anunoby chipped in with 22, but their efforts fell short at the Intuit Dome.
Landry Shamet, usually a reliable contributor off the bench, struggled to find his rhythm. Despite averaging 10.1 points and shooting 41.1% from three this season, Shamet managed just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting from deep, while also picking up four fouls and two turnovers. In a game that stayed close, a few more buckets from Shamet might have tipped the scales in the Knicks' favor.
The Knicks will need to regroup quickly as they face the Utah Jazz next, hoping to turn their road trip around before facing the Pacers.