Clippers star Kawhi Leonard dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, center, shoots as Clippers guard Kobe Sanders, left, and forward Kawhi Leonard defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers point guard Darius Garland drives as the Indiana Pacers’ T.J. McConnell defends during the first half on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Jordan Miller, right, shoots as Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, left, and guard Quenton Jackson defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam defends during the first half on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. soars to the rim for a dunk during the first half of their game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, left, shoots as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser writhes on the floor after he was injured during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser writhes on the floor after he was injured during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, left, shoots as Clippers guard Kris Dunn defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard takes a shot as the Indiana Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith defends during the first half on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Darius Garland, right, tries to pass while under pressure from Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard takes a shot during the first half of their game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin, right, drives past Clippers forward Nicolas Batum during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard takes a shot in front of the Indiana Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith during the first half on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, left, shoots as Clippers guard Darius Garland defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin watches a shot by Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell go in during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam takes a shot in front of Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the second half on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, shoots as Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown, left, passes while under pressure from Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson, left, drives toward the basket as Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown, left, blocks the shot of Clippers guard Jordan Miller during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers point guard Darius Garland drives as Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson defends during the second half on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, left, shoots as Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard, left, goes up for a dunk as Clippers guard Cam Christie defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Clippers’ Brook Lopez (11) and Kawhi Leonard, right, celebrate a play during the second half of their game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Musician Gene Simmons, upper left, watches during the second half of a game between the Clippers and the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Clippers star Kawhi Leonard dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INGLEWOOD — It was a homecoming for some, a home debut for another and a house party for Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Former Clippers Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown were back at the Intuit Dome after being traded a month ago, receiving a warm welcome from Clippers fans, while those same fans got their first look at new point guard Darius Garland.
And Garland, who came to the Clippers from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for James Harden, didn’t disappoint the home crowd.
But it was Mathurin who was most excited to see his former teammates, many of whom he played with in his three-plus seasons with the Pacers. The No. 6 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was traded to the Clippers in exchange for Zubac, Brown and draft picks.
“They’re not my friends, not tonight anyway,” he said before he went out and torched the Pacers for 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds.
Amid the reunions and tributes, the Clippers had a game to play against the short-handed Pacers and came away with a 130-107 victory to move within one game of .500 at 30-31.
Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and had eight rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. Brook Lopez added 17 points, while Derrick Jones Jr. scored 12 and Garland finished with 12 points, eight assists and four rebounds in 24 minutes in his second game with his new team.
Garland, who didn’t play for three months, gave himself a “B or B-minus” for his play, especially his ball handling.
“I just need some gym time. I need to be in the gym, work on my ball handling because that’s shaky right now,” Garland said. “And then just knocking off some rust, just trying to get in game shape, trying to compete at a high level on a defensive event as well. So yeah, I give myself a B, B-minus or somewhere around there. (A) passing grade, though.”
The Pacers overcame a 23-point deficit in the first half to cut the Clippers’ lead to 67-60 with 8:57 left in the third before Leonard and Lopez went on a 16-2 run to extend the lead to 83-62 at the 5:11 mark.
The Clippers – who are now 24-10 since Dec. 20 – continued to outplay Indiana and pushed the lead to 100-71 with 42 seconds left in the third. The Pacers (15-46) didn’t come close in the final quarter, trailing by as much as 37 points.
“I thought we did a good job whenever we kind of lost that focus for a second,” Lopez said. “Regathering and taking a moment and then getting back out there and obviously trying to get that win, doing what we needed. That’s what it’s all about.”
Zubac and Brown found many friends in the building on their return a month after being traded to the Pacers. Both players’ spaces in the visitors’ locker room were decorated with pictures of their time with the Clippers.
Zubac played for the Clippers for seven-plus seasons, where he established himself as a premier center, a mainstay of the team’s interior defense and a fan favorite. He was clearly remembered by the crowd, which gave him a rousing ovation after watching a video tribute.
“It was tough when he (Zubac) left and I’m glad the fans really showed their appreciation,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I’m glad the players and coaches and staff really show their appreciation for him because he deserves it.”
Zubac didn’t play Wednesday because of the left ankle sprain he suffered in the Clippers’ Dec. 20 victory over the Lakers. He tried to play through the injury before the trade deadline, but the Pacers have opted to rest the big man. He is expected to play at some point this season, but “he’s not there yet,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
Brown, the No. 30 pick by the Clippers in the 2023 draft, came off the bench and had five points and two rebounds.
After the former players got their flowers and Mathurin got a look at his former teammates, the Clippers went to work dismantling the Pacers, running out to a 23-point first-half lead before the Pacers closed the gap with a 14-3 run late in the second quarter.
By halftime, the Clippers’ lead had been sliced to 63-51.
The Pacers came into the game on a six-game losing streak and sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. But Carlisle wasn’t throwing in the towel.
“There’s more growth to be had by this roster, particularly the younger guys,” Carlisle said. “And we have some very competitive games down the stretch.”
Leading scorer Pascal Siakam, who missed the past three games because of a left wrist sprain, led the Pacers’ attack, scoring 21of his team-high 29 points before halftime. Indiana remains without Tyrese Haliburton, who is missing the entire season after suffering a torn Achilles in the NBA Finals last June.
Not all the news was good for the Clippers. Rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser left the game after injuring his ankle while landing awkwardly while attempting to block a shot in the second quarter. He had six points and four rebounds.
Lue said it’s always tough to watch a young player, who is playing well, get injured.
“He’s gotten better each week, just getting better and better,” Lue said. “And to see this happen, not sure the timetable or how long it’s going to be, but when he’s playing, he has made an impact every single night. We saw his impact tonight.”
NOTES
The Clippers shot 12.2 percentage points better from the field (55.1%) than the Pacers (42.9%). … Norchad Omier had only one basket but according to the Clippers, became the first Nicaraguan to score in the NBA.