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Prior to returning for the Clippers matchup with the Hornets in Charlotte on Monday evening, Kawhi Leonard had missed L.A.’s earlier six video games with a proper ankle damage. During that point on the sideline, he clearly did not lose his contact in terms of hitting clutch photographs.
With the Clippers trailing 117-115 and solely 45 seconds remaining on the clock in Charlotte, Leonard made two consecutive baskets to carry L.A. to a 119-117 victory. The first basket got here on the offensive glass after he was capable of corral a unfastened ball tapped into the paint by Paul George after a missed shot from Marcus Morris. That bucket tied the sport up at 117 apiece.
Then, with the clock winding down and the rating nonetheless twisted up, the ball was in Leonard’s arms once more. This time, he calmly sank a jumper over the outstretched arms of Jalen McDaniels. The shot sealed the deal for the Clippers, who snapped a two-game dropping streak with the win.
Leonard completed the sport with 16 factors, six rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes of motion. He was joined in double-figures by 5 different Clippers gamers, together with Paul George, who had 19 factors and 7 assists. Leonard’s clutch-ness proved to be the story of the sport, although, and you’ll see each of his late buckets beneath:
Leonard has had a comparatively gradual begin to the season, due largely to damage points. He has handled some lingering soreness in his surgically repaired proper knee, after which he was sidelined with the ankle difficulty. In the meantime, it has been powerful to get an actual learn on the Clippers with their finest participant spending a lot time on the sideline. We do know that they will want Leonard to be wholesome and productive if they will attain their ceiling as a staff so, hopefully, he can stay out on the ground because the season wears on.
