The wait is over. Nearly a month after one of the NBA’s most talked-about midseason trades, Darius Garland finally suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night — and Los Angeles made it count.
The Clippers erased a 17-point deficit to beat the short-handed Golden State Warriors 114-101, giving Garland a winning debut and sending a clear message to the Western Conference that this team still has something to prove.
Garland’s debut stats off the bench
Garland came off the bench to play nearly 23 minutes in his first game since being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline last month in the deal that sent James Harden to the Cavaliers. His final line on the night
- 12 points
- 2 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 5 turnovers
The rust was visible, but the flashes were undeniable. Garland showed stretches of his signature playmaking feel and scoring instinct — the kind that made him a two-time All-Star in Cleveland — even as his body continues to shake off a lengthy injury layoff that kept him out of the lineup longer than anyone expected.
Garland’s long road back from injury
Garland had not suited up since January 14, working his way back from injuries to the big toes on both feet. The recovery kept him sidelined even after the trade was finalized, forcing him to watch from the sidelines while his new teammates fought to stay in playoff contention without him.
Before the toe issues derailed his season, Garland was one of the more quietly effective guards in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 18 points, 6.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds across 26 appearances in Cleveland this season, shooting 52.1% on two-point attempts and an impressive 86.1% from the free-throw line — numbers that reflect the kind of efficient, high-IQ player the Clippers were betting on when they pulled the trigger on the deal.
The toe concern did not fully disappear Monday either. Garland went down late in the second quarter after a collision with Warriors guard Moses Moody when both players went for a loose ball. He returned to the floor shortly after and helped the Clippers close out the comeback in the second half, which was a relief for a fanbase that has been waiting patiently for his arrival.
Kawhi and the supporting cast carry the load
With Garland still finding his footing, his new teammates stepped up in a major way to secure the win. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists — a vintage performance from a player who has quietly been one of the better two-way forces in the West this season when healthy.
Kris Dunn delivered one of his best games of the year with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Bennedict Mathurin chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds as the Clippers dominated the interior, outscoring Golden State 62-36 in the paint. That kind of physicality was the difference in a game that looked out of reach at halftime.
Golden State was shorthanded throughout. Steph Curry missed his 11th consecutive game with a right knee injury, and Kristaps Porzingis sat out for the fifth straight contest. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 22 points but could not overcome the deficit alone.
What Garland means for the Clippers playoff push
Los Angeles enters this stretch at 28-31, sitting ninth in the Western Conference and just 2.5 games behind the eighth-place Warriors. The playoff picture is tight, and every game from here carries serious weight.
Garland’s arrival adds a dynamic piece to a team that has been searching for an identity all season. If his toes hold and the chemistry with Leonard develops quickly, the Clippers have the pieces to make a genuine push. Monday was just the beginning — and for a franchise that has been waiting a long time for something to get excited about, that alone felt like a win.
