Calm, cool, and cold-blooded.
A vintage Kawhi Leonard finally showed up for the LA Clippers in this year’s playoffs, and head coach Tyronn Lue was loving every second of it.
“This is what Kawhi [Leonard] lives for, getting healthy for the playoffs. We know if we've got a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series,” Lue insisted.
"This is what Kawhi lives for."
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2025
Ty Lue commented on Kawhi's big-time showing in LAC's thrilling Game 2 win 🤩
After Game 2, the Clippers gave themselves a fighting chance of doing so.
Leonard turned up the notch and finished with 39 points on an efficient 15/19 shooting, pacing a nail-biting 105-102 LA escape over the no. 4 Denver Nuggets to tie their West first-round showdown at 1-1.
[ALSO READ: Kawhi Leonard fires 39 on 15/19 shooting; Clippers nip Nuggets in Game 2 to even series]
Limited to just two playoff games in the last two years, the 33-year-old looked like his old self while playing his best game yet of the series.
He made nine of his first 10 shots, hit four threes, and dished out five assists in another nip-and-tuck affair with the Nuggets that was ultimately decided until the final buzzer sounded.
“It feels like he didn't miss a shot. His shot-making ability is elite,” James Harden, who poured 18 markers and seven dimes, spoke about Leonard’s stellar outing in Game 2.
"It felt like he didn't miss a shot. His shot-making ability is elite."@JHarden13 was in awe of @kawhileonard's 39-PT performance on 15-19 FGM 🌟🌟
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2025
For the two-time NBA champion, it was just a regular one of those nights where everything was clicking from his shots to his movements on the court.
“I made shots tonight. I'm just happy I'm able to move, you know, coming out of the game feeling well,” Leonard told reporters in the post-game press conference.
Despite getting outrebounded, the Clippers committed fewer turnovers (11) this time around compared to 20 during their Game 1 loss. They also tallied 13 steals and five blocks.
LA also overcame Nikola Jokic’s 19th career playoff triple-double of 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to steal home court advantage from the Nuggets — who lost for the first time under the David Adelman era.
Games 3 and 4 now take place in Inglewood starting Friday, April 25.
“These games are hard to play, you gotta play every possession, every minute,” Leonard added.
