NBA Scores: Clippers Beat Kings, Rockets Edge Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 138-109 on April 5, 2026, in a game that featured a significant career milestone for DeMar DeRozan and helped the Clippers improve their positioning for the playoffs.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points, including 13 points in the first quarter, to establish an early double-digit lead. John Collins contributed 25 points to the effort, while Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points.

For the Sacramento Kings, Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 points. Rookie Maxime Raynaud recorded 11 points and 16 rebounds, marking his 18th double-double of the season, the highest total among all rookies in the league.

DeMar DeRozan Reaches Scoring Milestone

During the first half of the April 5 game, DeMar DeRozan scored nine points in 10 minutes of play. This performance brought his career total to 26,711 points, allowing him to move past Oscar Robertson, who had 26,710 points, for 16th place on the NBA all-time scoring list. DeRozan did not play in the second half of the contest.

Western Conference Results

On April 7, 2026, several other Western Conference matchups took place with varying outcomes.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-87. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 25 points and eight assists, while Luke Kennard provided 10 points and nine assists for the Lakers.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 110-105. Delta Melton scored 21 points for the Warriors, while Kez Hayes scored 18 points and recorded four steals for Sacramento.

The Los Angeles Clippers continued their momentum on April 7, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 116-103. In another matchup, the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns 119-105.

The New Orleans Pelicans secured a high-scoring victory over the Utah Jazz, winning 156-137. J. Fears scored 40 points and added six assists and three steals for the Pelicans, while K. Chandler scored 31 points and recorded eight assists and seven rebounds for the Jazz.

Eastern Conference Results

The Eastern Conference also saw a full slate of games on April 7, 2026.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 113-102. Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Boston, while Lonzo Ball led the Hornets with 36 points and six assists.

The Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 121-95. Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and had eight rebounds for Toronto, while Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points for Miami.

Other results from April 7 include:

• The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Indiana Pacers 124-104.
• The Chicago Bulls beat the Washington Wizards 129-98.
• The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 96-90.

Playoff and Standings Impact

The victory over the Kings on April 5 moved the Los Angeles Clippers into a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with Portland. The Clippers have four games remaining in their season. The team in eighth place will receive two opportunities to enter the playoffs via the play-in tournament.

Conversely, the Sacramento Kings remained in a tie with Utah for the fourth-worst record in the NBA at 21-58 with three games remaining. This mark ties the Kings for the third-most losses in franchise history, trailing only the 1989-90 season (59 losses) and the 2008-09 season (65 losses).