How Nuggets swarmed Kawhi Leonard and forced Clippers loss in Game 1

Kawhi Leonard had one of his most forgettable performances in the playoffs during his tenure as a Clippers player yesterday.

How Nuggets swarmed Kawhi Leonard and forced Clippers loss in Game 1

Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray (Image via Imagn)

Game 1 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ series against the Denver Nuggets was a true playoff classic. The two teams were evenly matched after 48 minutes and the game entered overtime. Russell Westbrook powered the Nuggets with some clutch plays over the home stretch, hitting three shots as the Nuggets trailed. Kawhi Leonard could only score 4 points during the final 7:45 of the game in contrast.

The Klaw finished the night with only 22 points while also being responsible for a third of the Clippers’ turnovers. The two-time DPOY and Finals MVP had a hard time making his presence felt against a Denver defense focused on making his life difficult. While James Harden contributed a game-high 32 points, 11 assists and great defense, Leonard was clearly a cut below his best in this game.

YouTube video

The Nuggets assigned Aaron Gordon as Leonard’s primary defender. Gordon’s physical profile and defensive versatility were key in matching up against Leonard – he’s also contained Kawhi in their previous regular season clashes. Gordon stoutly contested Leonard’s shots and limited his ability to dominate possession by possession with his lateral mobility and reach.

The Nuggets’ defensive strategy also including aggressively blitzing Leonard to force him into becoming a playmaker. By doubling Leonard, they aimed to disrupt his rhythm and push him to pass or make quick decisions. This strategy contributed to Leonard committing seven turnovers in the game – a clear indicator that the Nuggets’ pressure was effective in unsettling him.

Most importantly, Denver capitalized on the Clippers’ lack of off-ball movement around Leonard. Leonard was blitzed by the Nuggets defending weaker offensive threats like Kris Dunn, who was often stationed in the corner during pick-and-roll situations. This allowed Denver to focus their defensive resources on Leonard and James Harden, clogging driving lanes and contesting shots.

Can Denver keep the heat up on Kawhi Leonard for the rest of the series?

Leonard and Gordon are two fascinating athletes going against each other. Gordon is taller, longer and more vertically athletic than the Klaw, especially at this stage of their careers. Gordon also has an unassailable motor – one that has allowed him to dominate even LeBron James on both ends in the 2023 and the 2024 playoffs. The Orlando Magic draft pick clearly has a lot going his way in these elite matchups.

Ty Lue and the Clippers have to find ways to get Leonard off the ball and give him more spot-up opportunities. James Harden and Ivica Zubac have to take on more on-ball roles and exploit their matchups. Norman Powell needs to be less turnover-prone and more enterprising as a facilitator. These three players have to do much of the ball-handling in order to keep the ball away from Gordon’s reach.

The Nuggets’ guard defense – especially from Jamal Murray – is much more susceptible to pressure. Nikola Jokic himself isn’t a very mobile defender. Ty Lue needs to find ways to exploit these two players’ tendencies, as well as to ensure that the Clippers stop turning the ball over. The team’s 22 turnovers resulted in 26 points for Denver. This is a trend that is simply unsustainable for a deep playoff run.