🆕 @theathletic.com Introducing Kobe Sanders, the LA Clippers rookie who became important at his job with James Harden out and cooked the Warriors in front of Snoop Dogg www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

@lawmurraythenu.bsky.social cooked again www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Last six Clippers rookies to start a game, play 35+ plus minutes, and score 20+ points - Kobe Sanders (2025-26) - Amir Coffey (2019-20) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018-19) - Blake Griffin (2010-11)* - Eric Gordon (2008-09) - DeAndre Jordan (2008-09) *drafted in 2009

Asked John Collins about how the Clippers got over Saturday night vs Celtics (losing, getting blown out, getting lit up for 50, DJ injury) to play tonight, and keeping that same energy for Eastern Conference road trip

Kobe Sanders after @johnhollinger.bsky.social asked him what he was finna do before Tyronn Lue burned his last timeout with 5 seconds on the shot clock "...I had a bucket!"

Asked Kobe Sanders about playing with ball in hand in school, playing on a team notorious for not playing young guys "I heard this small little knowledge that the NBA is consistency and opportunity. I was blessed with the opportunity and I'm just trying to stay consistent."

Nicolas Batum on Clippers defense: "We didn't do a good job on defense the first 20-some games. But we had time to practice, mid-December, with the NBA Cup. So that helped us a lot. And now we're just listening to what JVG told us, because he's best defensive coach in NBA."

Asked Nicolas Batum about Kobe Sanders Nico said they told Kobe if he makes mistakes, coach can't take him out, there's nobody else left 😆

Asked Nicolas Batum about Clippers last stand defensively vs Warriors

Asked Tyronn Lue about the game-sealing defensive stop tonight vs Warriors

Tyronn Lue on Kobe Sanders middy "That's his best shot. You know... they talking about rim and 3 and all that. Shoot your best shot..."

Tonight's LA Clippers win snapped a seven-game losing streak in games without James Harden in the lineup. The last win: April 2024 at Phoenix. Clippers starting lineup that night: Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Paul George, Ivica Zubac

LA Clippers win total this season First 50 days: 6 17 days since: 7

So Since I took this job covering the Clippers They have: - lost at home on January 5 - lost on road on January 5 - won on road on January 5 - won at home on January 5

Player of the game STAMPED

One-point game John Collins made one of the two techs he got when Steve Kerr was ejected The slimmest of margins!

Okay everyone, pick your defensive lineup! (Clippers going with Dunn, Sanders, Leonard, BATUM, Zubac)

Clippers used their last timeout, and all they got was Kawhi Leonard being 0/8 from 3. Warriors use their final timeout with 6.9 left and down 103-102. No fouls to give

Tyronn Lue did not like the idea of Kobe Sanders needing to create with LA leading 103-102 with 14 seconds left to play and 5 seconds left on shot clock LA uses last timeout. Warriors have one remaining

This is the first close game Clippers have played (win or lose) since December 11 lol

Kris Dunn makes two clutch free throws Still a one-possession game. Steph did his part. Warriors 100, LAC 103, 42.7 seconds left Both teams have one timeout Neither team has a foul to give

Steph Curry has been disqualified with six personal fouls

Clippers went on a 7-4 run featuring a Kris Dunn 3 and paint buckets by Collins/Dunn Steph Curry with back-to-back 3s to force an LA timeout with 65 seconds left LA clinging to 101-100 lead

We are in clutch time The LA Clippers are the worst clutch time team in the NBA (2-10, wins over Pelicans on Halloween and at Dallas in November)

Kris Dunn has 5 fouls in 31 minutes

Warriors attempted to get Curry open on a flare screen, then a DHO. Dunn stayed connected. Warriors got a Jimmy middy. Then after Sanders failed to draw foul, Santos scores on a cut Timeout LA with 3:39 left, leading 94-89

Warriors haven't made a field goal in nearly 3 minutes. Clippers on 10-4 run LA leads 94-81 4:47 left to play Clippers playing well enough for Kawhi to rest has Kawhi FLYING. Rebounds and runouts. Board Man Gets Paid

Stephen Curry has 5 fouls in 29 minutes

Both teams in bonus last 6:21

Warriors in bonus last 6:56 of game LA leads 86-77 Kobe Sanders and Kawhi Leonard played entire third quarter. Leonard is back, Sanders still resting with a career-high points. Sanders is gonna play 30+ minutes for the second time in his career.

Terry Stotts is the Warriors head coach

Me watching Steve Kerr get ejected after the John Collins block of Payton lol

Steve Kerr #HeGone

Draymond lol

3rd quarter field goals in LA! Golden State Warriors entire team: 3/24 Kobe Sanders by himself: 4/5

LA Clippers lead Warriors 76-64 through 3 quarters That's despite Kawhi Leonard shooting a wretched 8/21 FGs and earning only 2 FTs It's been the Kobe Sanders Show: 20 points, 9/12 FGs, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2/3 3s FGs: GS 32.9%, LAC 48.3%

50th pick 20 points

Kawhi Leonard was shot out of a cannon after Nico Batum intercepted Jimmy Butler's jump pass. It's been a rough one for Kawhi (0/6 3s, 5 turnovers, 8/20 FGs) but he ran hard and got a timeout-inducing bucket LA on a 12-5 run, lead 73-62 with 2:16 left in 3rd quarter

Challenge is successful

Tyronn Lue is challenging Kobe Sanders foul drawn by Jimmy Butler

Green remains in the game

Now Draymond Green is trying to walk off left leg tweak after getting beat baseline by Kawhi Wasn't able to do it Timeout Warriors. LA up 59-53, 9:40 left in 3rd quarter

Warriors used a 9-0 run to get back into this game LA takes 55-51 halftime lead Ivica Zubac: 6 points, 8 rebounds, 6/6 FTs Entire Warriors team: 4/5 FTs This looks like it'll come down to the wire. LAC: 8-man rotation, 18 points allowed off 12 turnovers. That's the barometer.

De'Anthony Melton remains in foul trouble

Kawhi Leonard came back in and put a pause to 7-0 Warriors run, and answered a Jimmy Butler and-one with another bucket. He's locked in, offensively at least. Timeout Warriors, 3:31 left in 1st half. LA leads 51-42

The live ball turnovers came back out for LA, with Curry and Moody steals leading to fast break buckets Timeout LA with 7:16 left in 1st half. Clippers still lead 43-34 while resting Kawhi vs Curry/Draymond minutes

After Clippers talked about how they *don't have to* donate the basketball to the Warriors They proceeded to shred them while playing off of Kawhi absorbing double teams (see: b2b Nico left corner 3s) LA leads 31-19. Leonard: 10 points, 5 reb, 2/2 FTs. FGs: GS 28%, LAC 58%

De'Anthony Melton is in foul trouble

Brook Lopez is the backup center Jordan Miller is the backup small forward Miller just hit a corner 3 assisted by Lopez to give LA a 17-13 lead with 4:13 left in 1st quarter That followed an 8-0 go-ahead Clippers run

LAC in bonus last 4:50 of 1st quarter