Nique Clifford 26 points vs Lakers (Mar 1, 2026): 2nd-best of 58 games
26 PTS · 11-of-18 FG · 1-of-2 3P · 3-of-4 FT · 41:42 MIN
Usual before this game: 6.9 PTS · 6.6 FGA · 22.2 MIN, from 57 regular-season games
2nd-best Game Score of 58 games this season: 20.6 against a usual 4.8 (+15.8)
above usual
No more than 3 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about 2 to 4 times a season.
How the score worksWhy did Nique Clifford score 26 points?
In 41:42 against the Lakers on Mar 1, 2026, Nique Clifford scored 26 points: 11-of-18 from the field (61.1%), 1-of-2 from three, 3-of-4 on free throws. Before this game, Clifford averaged 6.9 points on 6.6 shots in 22.2 minutes across 57 regular-season games. This game had the 2nd-best Game Score of 58 games this season. Shot attempts: 18, against a usual 6.6. The 61.1% from the field compares with a usual 39.7%. Points by shot type, against the usual: two-pointers 20 (3.5), free throws 3 (0.8). Playing time was 41:42, against a usual 22.2 minutes; per 36 minutes, the Game Score was 17.8, against a usual 7.8. Clifford had 3 turnovers and 3 fouls, against a usual 1.3 and 1.9. The Kings lost 128-104 at the Lakers, a 24-point loss. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Clifford in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (57 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 41:42 | 22.2 | +19.5 |
| Points | 26 | 6.9 | +19.1 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 18 · 61.1% | 6.6 · 39.7% | +11.4 · +21.4 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 1-of-2 | 2.8 · 31.8% | -0.8 |
| FTA · FT% | 3-of-4 | 1.1 · 72.6% | +2.9 |
| Rebounds | 7 | 3.2 | +3.8 |
| Assists | 4 | 1.8 | +2.2 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1.3 | +1.7 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 56 games | 22.5 | 16.1 | +6.4 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 17.8 | 7.8 | +10.0 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (57 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 3 (1-of-2) | 2.6 (0.9-of-2.8) | +0.4 |
| Twos | 20 (10-of-16) | 3.5 (1.8-of-3.8) | +16.5 |
| Free throws | 3 (3-of-4) | 0.8 (0.8-of-1.1) | +2.2 |
| Total | 26 | 6.9 | +19.1 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
20.6 against a usual 4.8 (+15.8)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +14.2 |
| Rebounds | +1.6 |
| Assists | +1.5 |
| Steals and blocks | +0.6 |
| Turnovers and fouls | -2.1 |
| Total | +15.8 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
2nd-best Game Score of 58 games this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Kings lost 128-104 at the Lakers, a 24-point loss.
- Previous appearance: Feb 26, 2026, 3 days earlier.
- Earlier regular-season meetings with the Lakers this season: 11 points (Dec 28, 2025), 0 points (Jan 12, 2026).
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.