Clippers guard Paul George drives against New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes during the second half Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard (2), Nicolas Batum (33) and Marcus Morris Sr. (8) guard against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, second from left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) drives against Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell gestures after scoring a three-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) drives against New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to move the ball around Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) drives against Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, top, goes to the basket against New York Knicks center Jericho Sims (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson goes to the basket past New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, top left, and guard Jalen Brunson during the second half Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride, right, drives against Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Clippers guard Paul George drives against New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett during the second half Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley, right, goes to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) goes to the basket against New York Knicks center Jericho Sims in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Clippers won 134-128. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard goes to the basket as New York Knicks forward Julius Randle defends during the second half Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Clippers forward Norman Powell reacts after scoring during the second half of their game against the New York Knicks on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots over New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes during the second half on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Leonard had 35 points in a 134-128 overtime win. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
NEW YORK — The Clippers squandered another double-digit lead, but they salvaged this one.
Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points, Paul George added 30 and the Clippers beat the New York Knicks, 134-128, in overtime Saturday night.
After the Clippers lost a 17-point fourth-quarter lead, Nicolas Batum’s 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer tied it at 115. The Clippers had a 21-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks two nights earlier but ended up losing by one point.
“I wish we could finish the game in the fourth quarter by making some shots to put teams away,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But, big shot by Nico. Gutsy win by us. Nico makes the big shot and we controlled the overtime.”
The Clippers scored the first four points of overtime and never relinquished the lead. Leonard connected on all of his eight free throws in the extra session, finishing 12 for 12 from the line.
“We got to do better,” Leonard said. “Second night in a row we had big leads against these good team and they’re coming back. They have fight in them and we have to be able to close them out.”
Norman Powell added 24 points for the Clippers and Marcus Morris Sr. had 17. The Clippers have won seven of their past nine games.
Jalen Brunson, who returned after missing a game due to a non-COVID illness, led the Knicks with 41 points. Julius Randle had 28.
Powell’s jumper gave the Clippers a 17-point lead to open the fourth quarter and they still led 106-94 following Powell’s layup with 7:18 remaining.
But, Quentin Grimes’ 3-pointer with 52 seconds left gave the Knicks their first lead, 113-112, and Brunson capped a 21-6 run with a layup with 18 seconds left.
George missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining, but Ivica Zubac got the offensive rebound and Batum made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“As a team, if we didn’t start the way we played and played Knicks basketball, we wouldn’t have been be in that position,” Brunson said. “I am proud of how we fought. I am not really too worried about anything. The biggest thing to take away from this game was that my teammates fought. We will move on from that.”
TIP-INS
Clippers: No Clipper has played in all 56 games this season. Mann has missed just one, while Zubac has the most starts (54). … The Clippers had lost three straight games to the Knicks.
Knicks: New York is the only NBA team that has a better record on the road than at home. The Knicks are also the only team with a winning record overall but a losing record at home. … Randle and Isaiah Hartenstein are the only Knicks to play all 54 games this season.
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