The LA Clippers head into Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, riding a hot streak and facing a New York Knicks team that rarely gives much away at home. Tip is set for 7:30 pm ET, with the Knicks favored by 4.5 points and the total at 223.5. This one has a big-fight feel: a classic Garden night, a surging road team, and a long injury list on both sides that could shape every possession.

Los Angeles is now 13-22 after a gutsy 103-102 win over Golden State on Monday, a victory that capped a 7-of-8 run. But they are still 4-13 away from home. New York counters with a 23-13 record and a strong 15-4 mark at Madison Square Garden. The numbers say the Knicks are in control, but the Clippers’ form says do not look away.

Injury report at center stage: Harden’s status headlines

All eyes are on James Harden’s right shoulder. One listing notes Harden as “probable” for the Knicks game. Another note says he is “battling right shoulder soreness, and it is uncertain if he will play”. That swing between probable and questionable is the story to track up to tip-off. If he goes, he brings 22.6 points and 6.8 assists per game and the kind of pacing that gets the Clippers into their sets fast. If he sits, the playmaking falls to a committee.

Across the rest of the LA report, the hits are real. Bradley Beal (left hip fracture) is out for the season. Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hamstring/hip) is out until at least January 12, and there is no firm timetable beyond that. Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee sprain/MCL) is out until late February after a six-week re-evaluation window. Veteran guard Chris Paul is also out and not with the team.

That is a lot of ball-handling and wing depth missing at once. The Clippers have stated they will adjust their plays; Kris Dunn and TyTy Washington Jr. are expected to step up. If Harden cannot go, expect more touches for Kawhi Leonard and more on-ball reps for Dunn. The team may also lean on John Collins and Kobe Sanders to soak up minutes and energy on both ends.

“If Harden sits, it’s the Kawhi show at MSG.”

Knicks’ availability: steady core, short bench

The Knicks’ injury list is not as long, but it still matters. Josh Hart has a right ankle sprain and is listed as questionable; he could miss the game or be limited if he plays. Landry Shamet (shoulder), Zach Collins (right first toe sprain), Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), and Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain) are all out. The core remains intact, and the Garden rotation is still tough, but the wing depth could be thinner.

Even so, New York’s home form has been rock solid. At 15-4 at MSG, the Knicks use the crowd and their pace control to grind teams down. They do not need to run; they pick their spots, get to their set actions, and let Jalen Brunson decide late in the clock.

“Brunson vs. Kawhi is the chess match — who blinks first?”

Stars and matchups: Kawhi, Brunson, and the battle of shot creators

Kawhi Leonard has been the steady drum for the Clippers. He enters the night at 27.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, a clean two-way star who can win on the block or in space. If Harden is limited or out, Kawhi will face more traps and late doubles. That means the Clippers’ spacing and screening must be crisp, and their role players must hit open shots.

James Harden, if active, changes the geometry. His 22.6 points and 6.8 assists pull a defender high above the break and force the Knicks to choose between tagging rollers and staying home on shooters. Ivica Zubac (10.7 points, 8.0 rebounds) can get easy looks out of that, and the Clippers’ corners become live zones.

For New York, Jalen Brunson is a problem for any defense. He is at 28.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.0 boards, and he controls tempo as well as anyone in the East. Karl-Anthony Towns (17.4 points, 9.0 rebounds) gives the Knicks a pick-and-pop threat that can drag rim protectors to the arc. Mikal Bridges (15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds) adds a steady two-way wing who can punish overhelp.

Odds, trends, and the path to victory

Books have New York at -4.5 with a total of 223.5. On paper, the Knicks’ home record (15-4) and the Clippers’ road mark (4-13) explain that line. But form matters, too, and the Clippers have won seven of eight, including Monday’s one-point escape over the Warriors. They are defending, they are closing, and they are getting big shots late.

The total sits in a tricky range. If Harden plays, pace and half-court creation both tick up for LA, and 223.5 becomes reachable. If he does not, this could slide into a more physical game with long, late-clock possessions, which leans under. Either way, the Knicks will try to flatten the Clippers in the paint and win the free-throw line and the glass.

“-4.5 feels light if the Garden crowd gets rolling early.”

What to watch at Madison Square Garden

• Harden’s status: A last-hour update could swing both the spread and the total. If he plays, watch his first shift for shoulder comfort on drives and step-backs.
• Kawhi’s usage: Expect early touches in the mid-post to anchor the offense and force Knicks help. If doubles come, can LA’s role players punish?
• Brunson’s control: The Knicks love to let him navigate ball screens late. Can the Clippers show him different looks and keep him off his favorite spots?
• Karl-Anthony Towns spacing: If Zubac is pulled out, the Knicks will attack the rim behind him. If LA switches, KAT can punish smaller defenders.
• Next men up: Kris Dunn and TyTy Washington Jr. have a chance to stabilize LA’s backcourt. John Collins and Kobe Sanders could be important for energy and boards.
• Bench minutes: With Hart uncertain and several Knicks out, can New York’s second unit hold serve against a hungry Clippers bench?

How to watch

The game airs on MSG and FanDuel Sports Network, with streaming options on NBA League Pass and Fubo TV. Tip-off is 7:30 pm ET.

Bottom line

This matchup is about poise under pressure. The Knicks have the home edge and the steadier rotation. The Clippers have momentum and a star in Kawhi Leonard playing at a high level. Harden’s shoulder is the swing factor. If he suits up, LA’s offense has two engines. If he does not, it is a grinder that favors New York’s physical style.

Garden nights bring out the best. Expect a tight first half, tactical adjustments after the break, and the stars deciding it late. Whether you are watching the line or the lineups, this one has layers.