Los Angeles Clippers Complete Historic In-Season Turnaround
Late-season surge seals a winning record
What started as a nightmare turned into one of the NBA’s more surprising comebacks. After a dismal 6-21 start that led to the departure of long-time figure Chris Paul, the Clippers rattled off an incredible run down the stretch. Head coach Tyronn Lue set a clear target — finish the season at least 35-20 — and the team exceeded expectations.
The Clippers closed out the season by going 36-19 in that stretch, largely powered by Kawhi Leonard’s return to form. Leonard averaged around 28 points per game and pushed the club to a 42-40 final record. That mark extended their streak to 15 consecutive winning seasons, an impressive feat given the franchise’s rocky reputation in past decades.
Where they stand and what’s next
For historical context, that run puts the Clippers among franchises with the longest consecutive winning seasons — behind the Spurs (22), Jazz (19) and Lakers (16), while the Clippers sit at 15, ahead of teams like the Celtics and Trail Blazers at 14. Staying relevant through ups and downs has been a hallmark for this group since the arrival of key veterans earlier in the decade.
Now the focus turns to the play-in tournament. The Clippers face the Golden State Warriors in the opening play-in matchup, with a chance to secure a playoff berth by advancing and then taking on the loser of the Suns vs. Trail Blazers game. If their late-season momentum holds, they’ll be a dangerous team to draw in the postseason.
Between Lue’s bold midseason goal, Leonard’s scoring surge and the team’s resilience, Los Angeles finished with a storybook-ish turnaround that gives fans hope heading into the playoffs.
