Kawhi Leonard expressed his satisfaction with Darius Garland’s inspiring display during his Los Angeles Clippers debut, after the recently acquired guard notched 12 points coming off the bench in his team’s 114–101 NBA home triumph against the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
On the subsequent evening of a back-to-back schedule, the Clippers overcame a 17-point disadvantage, mounting a second-half resurgence aided by a three-point shot from Garland late in the third quarter.
Knock ’em down, Darius 😤 pic.twitter.com/nYK1z2tYwj
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 3, 2026
“He performed excellently,” stated Leonard, who contributed 15 of his 23 points throughout the concluding 24 minutes as the Clippers outscored their rivals 72-45 during the second half.
“He maintained an assertive approach… appearing very promising on the court. I truly appreciated his contribution.
“We will be counting on him to facilitate our offense, create opportunities for his shots, accelerate the tempo in transition, and simply involve everyone while initiating plays, so we avoid periods of inactivity.”
“It was like a team effort tonight, so it was a really good win” – Darius Garland after his first W as a Clipper 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/s98FJd9UZO
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 3, 2026
Review: Darius Garland’s Memorable Clippers Inauguration
Despite the absence of Stephen Curry (right knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) due to ailments, the Warriors commenced with a rapid pace, propelled by Brandin Podziemski, who amassed 20 of his 22 points before intermission.
Garland – an All-Star in both 2022 and 2025 – made his initial appearance following his transfer from the Cleveland Cavaliers, where the 26-year-old had been since 2019.
“He is a superb All-Star caliber player, and I am genuinely eager to compete alongside him more often and for extended minutes as he ramps up his activity,” Leonard commented.
“He has been outstanding all season, and even in the previous year. He definitely deserves to be named to the first team all-defense this year. I am uncertain of the precise criteria.”
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
| Clippers | 19 | 23 | 35 | 37 | 114 |
| Warriors | 31 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 101 |
Darius Garland’s NBA Season Statistics: A Summary
Garland currently averages 17.7 points per game this season, a slight dip from his 20.6 average last season, along with 6.7 assists per contest.
His statistics also include an average of 2.4 rebounds, a field goal percentage of 45.1, and a three-point percentage of 35.7, complemented by free throw figures of 86.4.
The 2019 first-round draft pick secured the leading 11-foot shot to commence the fourth quarter, as part of an impressive initial showing since January 14.
“It was truly a collective team victory,” Garland articulated, referring to teammate Kris Dunn as a “big brother.” “KD is simply a powerhouse. He possesses an innate ability to track the ball.”
“He managed two highly significant steals in that second half, which truly ignited our offensive and defensive efforts.”
“I felt immense assurance with KD alongside me on the court, without a doubt.”
Upcoming Matches for the LA Clippers: Schedule Details
The Clippers’ next engagement is against the Indiana Pacers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday (22:30 ET / 19:30 PT / 03:30 GMT on Thursday).
They currently hold ninth place in the Western Conference and boast a 6-4 record following two consecutive victories. The Pacers (2-8, L6) are positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.