Kawhi Leonard delivered a masterclass performance, scoring 39 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a thrilling 105-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
The win levels the series at 1-1.
The 33-year-old star was near flawless on the night, converting 15 of his 19 shots and showing the kind of offensive efficiency that has made him one of the NBA’s most feared postseason performers.
His clutch play helped the Clippers rebound after a tough overtime loss in Game 1.
Denver had a chance to force another overtime, but Christian Braun’s three-point attempt with six seconds remaining missed the mark. Nikola Jokic grabbed the rebound but couldn’t convert, sealing the win for Los Angeles.
“It felt like he didn’t miss a shot. His shot-making ability is elite,” said Clippers teammate James Harden. “That’s the aggressiveness we need from him. No matter who is guarding him. He just got to a spot and raised it up. He’s a big-time player and he played big time tonight.”
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue echoed the praise: “This is what Kawhi lives for. If we have a healthy Kawhi then we can win any series.”
Despite the loss, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic had a strong showing with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Murray added 23 points in a closely contested game that went down to the wire.
The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, with momentum swinging back in the Clippers’ favor.
