Clippers lose back to back vs Philly & Cleveland- Trade Harden, Zubac
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the LA Clippers 128–113 on February 2, 2026, in a dominant road performance that saw the Sixers lead for nearly the entire game.
Philadelphia set the tone early at the Intuit Dome, racing out to a 38–19 lead by the end of the first quarter. While Kawhi Leonard attempted to spark a Clippers comeback with 13 second-quarter points, the Sixers maintained a comfortable 19-point cushion at halftime. Despite the Clippers cutting the lead to 11 in the third quarter, timely three-point shooting from Tyrese Maxey ensured Philadelphia secured their fourth consecutive win.
The Clippers were noticeably shorthanded, playing without James Harden, who was out for personal reasons amid intensifying trade rumors.
Key Takeaways
The Early Blitz: Philadelphia's 38-point first quarter was the highest-scoring opening frame of their road trip, effectively putting the Clippers in a hole they could never fully escape.
Barlow's Breakout: Rookie/Second-year forward Dominick Barlow was the game's biggest surprise, recording a career-high 26 points and 16 rebounds, outworking the Clippers' interior defense throughout the night.
Missing Playmaking: Without Harden's facilitation, the Clippers struggled with spacing and ball movement, finishing with 14 turnovers and shooting just 35% from the three-point line.
Play-in Pressure: With this loss, the Clippers fell to 23–27, keeping them at 9th in the Western Conference as they battle to stay in play-in tournament range.
Written by Marie Llug
Next up 2 days later was another big loss to Cleveland when the rumors became reality as they traded the amazing James Harden to Cleveland for 2 time all star Darious Garland a future 2nd round pick. It seems that Harden wanted to play for a championship and he thought his chances were much better with the Cavs despite the recent success the Clippers have had owning the best record in the NBA since Dec. 20th. Garland is very dynamic and 10 yrs younger at 26 but has had toe injury issues last year and currently as he is our for sometime. If he can regain his health and the way he has played, this could be better for the long term.
Cavs Dominate Clippers in Post-Deadline Statement
The Cavs’ play in Inglewood on Feb. 4 was less about the headlines and more about execution. Cleveland crushed the Clippers 124–91, leading wire-to-wire in a game that underscored how well their roster functions even without having integrated Harden yet — he and Darius Garland were both inactive due to trade paperwork, but their presence didn’t distract the Cavs’ focus.
Key takeaways from the clash:
Team cohesion over individual roles: Donovan Mitchell led with 29 points and nine assists, but what stood out was the Cavs’ collective effort — they forced 24 Clippers turnovers and turned those miscues into 47 points. Cleveland’s 51 % shooting and near-39 % three-point accuracy created a balanced, aggressive attack.
Clippers weaknesses exposed: Los Angeles shot a dismal 21.4 % from deep, struggled to handle pressure, and never seriously threatened after the first quarter. Kawhi Leonard and John Collins scored respectable numbers, but with limited support, it wasn’t enough.
Frontcourt impact: Without Ivica Zubac (out for personal reasons related to the birth of his child), the Clippers’ interior defense and rebounding were visibly thinner, and Cleveland exploited that with crisp passing and cuts.
Fans on social threads called it one of the worst offensive nights in memory for the Clippers, especially given how often the Cavs converted on nearly every turnover.
Zubac Trade the Next Day — A Structural Shift
The very next day, the Clippers made a surprising roster move, shipping 7-foot center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers (along with Kobe Brown) as part of broader deadline activity that also included bringing in Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.
Why this matters:
Defensive identity shaken: Zubac was the heart of LA’s defense and rebounding foundation. League observers and some writers pointed out that by parting with him, the Clippers weakened the core defensive piece that had helped them stay competitive down the stretch.
Emotional and cultural impact: Zubac was more than stats — teammates and peers have spoken about his presence and leadership, and moving him right after the Garland/Harden deal hit fans emotionally.
Roster recalibration: Acquiring Mathurin and Jackson signals LA is reshaping the roster toward youth and versatility, even if that means short-term growing pains.
Interestingly, even after these transactions, the Clippers showed resilience in other games shortly after — for instance, securing a narrow road win over the Kings behind Kawhi Leonard’s scoring — suggesting the team isn’t collapsing entirely.
Summary: The Cavs’ blowout win wasn’t just about the trade headlines — it was a complete team performance that highlighted Cleveland’s depth and execution. The Clippers, meanwhile, followed that loss by moving one of their defensive anchors, a choice that represents a true pivot in roster construction and has both basketball and cultural implications for LA.
Written by Jim Vatcher
More at www.nba.com/clippers