“This was legit his game 7”- Incredible Kawhi Leonard stat has Lakers fans CONVINCED Clippers star treated the game against LeBron James and co. like an NBA Finals battle
Kawhi Leonard’s stellar performance against the Lakers draws attention from fans of both Clippers and Lakers alike.
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Via CBS Sports
Kawhi Leonard is not one to shy away from big games. But on Wednesday night, he did something he had not done in almost a decade: he played the entire second half of a game.
Leonard finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 43 minutes as he led the Clippers to a 125-118 win over the Lakers. The Clippers ended a three-game skid and moved up to fifth in the Western Conference. James and the Lakers dropped to seventh and into the play-in tournament territory.
The last time Leonard played a full half was the second half of Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat. While LeBron James came out on top that night, Leonard helped the Clippers hold off a furious comeback by Lakers star on Wednesday night. The game felt like a must-win game for both teams as they look to avoid slipping into the play-in tournament places on the standings.
Leonard downplayed the significance of the game, saying he did not feel it was the most important one of his career since joining the Clippers. But he admitted that it was a crucial win for his team. “I didn’t feel that way,” Leonard said. “But I mean, we needed this win tonight. We needed to get better. We needed to improve our record. And we just wanted to come out here and compete.“
Leonard also gave credit to his teammates for stepping up in crunch time. He spoke highly of Norman Powell, who had 27 points and six steals, including a steal and an alley-oop pass to Leonard that electrified the Staples Center crowd. “He played great. He was aggressive on both ends of the floor. He got some key steals for us down the stretch and made some big shots,” said Leonard.
Lakers fans react to Kawhi Leonard’s performance on Twitter
While Clippers fans were ecstatic about Leonard’s performance and the team’s win over their crosstown rivals, Lakers fans were not so happy. Many of them took to Twitter to express their frustration, disbelief, and admiration for Leonard’s rare feat.
Some Lakers fans accused Leonard of treating the game like a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, implying that he was desperate to beat James and the Lakers.
Some Lakers fans acknowledged Leonard’s greatness and credited him for playing through fatigue and leading his team to victory. But some expressed concerns about the team’s slump and their position in the standings. The Lakers are now facing a strong possibility of competing in the play-in tournament to secure a playoff spot.
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Ankush Singh
(616 Articles Published)