Kawhi Leonard, Clippers outlast Kings to begin trip
Published February 7, 2026, 06:35 AM
Clippers forward John Collins handles the ball as the Sacramento Kingsā DeāAndre Hunter defends during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, right, draws a foul on Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers guard Kris Dunn shows his frustration after getting called for a foul during the first half of a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook, left, gets to the basket for a layup and draws a foul on Clippers center Brook Lopez, right, during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue watches from the sideline during the first half of a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford, center, goes up to shoot between Clippers forwards John Collins (20) and Derrick Jones Jr., right, during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers center Brook Lopez, right, blocks a dunk attempt by the Sacramento Kingsā Dylan Cardwell during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk drives to the basket as Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) defends during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (2) attempts to shoot around Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell, center, during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, gets fouled by the Sacramento Kingsā Dylan Cardwell during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie watches from the sideline during the first half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford, right, goes up to shoot as Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. defends during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, far right, shoots as the Sacramento Kingsā Maxime Raynaud defends during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings forward DeāAndre Hunter, right, reacts after getting hit in the eye by Clippers guard Kobe Sanders, center, during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings forward DeāAndre Hunter lays on the court after getting hit in the eye during the second half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, right, is fouled by the Sacramento Kingsā Devin Carter during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud scores in front of Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, left, and forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) celebrates after dunking on an alley-oop pass during the second half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers guard Kris Dunn, left, gets fouled by the Sacramento Kingsā Nique Clifford as he reaches for the ball during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kingsā Dylan Cardwell, middle, gets fouled by Clippers forward John Collins, left, while grabbing a rebound during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Clippers center Brook Lopez tries to get to the basket as Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell, right, defends during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud reacts to a foul called on him during the second half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers forward John Collins, left, draws a foul on Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud as he goes up for a dunk during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) goes up for a dunk between Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) and center Brook Lopez, right, during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell, center, has his shot blocked by Clippers center Brook Lopez, right, during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, makes dunks as Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell defends during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. dunks off an alley-oop pass from Kawhi Leonard (not pictured) during the second half of a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., reacts after dunking off an alley-oop pass during the second half of a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk loses control of the ball as he drives between Clippers center Brook Lopez, left, and forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) grabs the rebound while battling with Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) and center Brook Lopez, center, during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter finishes a reverse dunk in front of Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, far left, and guard Cam Christie, center, during the second half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
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Clippers forward John Collins handles the ball as the Sacramento Kingsā DeāAndre Hunter defends during the first half on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Sacramento. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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SACRAMENTO ā The Clippers took the court for the first time since making several significant moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline, but at least one thing looked familiar āĀ Kawhi Leonard playing at an elite level.
Leonard scored 31 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had seven assists to lead the Clippers to a 114-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, sending the Kings to their 11th consecutive loss.
John Collins added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Brook Lopez added 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots and Kris Dunn had 15 points and five assists for the Clippers, who ended a two-game skid.
Leonard shot 9 for 19 from the field in his 13th 30-point performance of the season, making all 12 of his free throws as the Clippers shot 31 for 36 (86%) from the foul line.
Playing short-handed in the aftermath of trades this week that saw them export starters James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers trailed 84-81 early in the fourth quarter before surviving for their 11th win in the past 15 games.
Leonard put the rally in motion with a long 2-pointer, after which Lopez gave the Clippers the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 9:50 remaining.
Dunnās big contribution came on an 11-foot floater on which he was fouled, setting up a three-point play, and two minutes later on a 3-pointer that increased the Clippersā lead to 96-89 with 6:52 left.
Jones then drilled a 24-footer as he was being fouled. He also hit the free throw for a four-point play and a 99-91 margin with 8:36 remaining, and the Kings never recovered.
New Clippers point guard Darius Garland, acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade for Harden earlier this week, remained out. He hasnāt played since Jan. 14 because of a sprained big toe on his right foot.
Malik Monk had 18 points off the bench (all 3-pointers) to lead Sacramento, which hasnāt won since beating the struggling Washington Wizards at home on Jan. 16. Nique Clifford had 16 points and Dylan Cardwell and Devin Carter each scored 14 for the Kings. DeāAndre Hunter, also acquired in a deal with the Cavaliers this week, had six points in his second game for Sacramento.
The Kings held out star center Domantas Sabonis because of a sore back but still got plenty of production from substitute big man Maxime Raynaud, who had 12 points and five rebounds, and his backup, Cardwell, who snatched a game-high 14 rebounds.
Sacramento veteran starters Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Hunter combined to shoot just 6 for 25 from the field and 0 for 12 from 3-point range, the latter contributing to 27% team accuracy from behind the arc. None of the four scored more than six points.
The Clippers play at Minnesota on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT in the second stop of a four-game trip.