In a must-win moment early in their postseason, the LA Clippers turned to the one man whose calm, calculated dominance has defined playoff basketball in recent years—Kawhi Leonard. With their backs against the wall after dropping Game 1 to the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Leonard delivered one of his finest playoff performances in years, scoring 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting, as the Clippers edged out a 105–102 victory to even the first-round series at 1–1.
Kawhi’s Clinical Takeover
If Game 1 showed signs of rust, Game 2 saw Kawhi at his absolute best—fluid in movement, selective in his shots, unbothered by double teams, and surgical in his execution. Leonard didn’t just fill up the stat sheet—he controlled the game’s tempo, especially in the second half.
He scored 12 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of every mismatch. Whether it was rising over smaller defenders or attacking the paint with his trademark mid-post fadeaway, Leonard seemed determined to prove why he's still one of the most dangerous postseason players in the league.
His efficiency was stunning: 15-of-19 from the field, 3-of-4 from three-point range, and flawless execution with just one turnover in 40 minutes. He defended Jokić in spurts, rotated seamlessly, and made the right reads on offense.
While Kawhi was the unquestioned hero, the Clippers' victory was built on a more complete team performance than in Game 1.
James Harden added 18 points and 6 assists, operating as a secondary scorer and playmaker. Though he struggled to score efficiently, his floor leadership helped manage Denver’s defensive schemes.
Ivica Zubac was a force on the boards, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the defense and challenging Jokić in the paint with surprising success.
Norman Powell chipped in 13 points, including a pivotal corner three in the final two minutes that gave the Clippers a four-point cushion.
Their bench contributions weren’t overwhelming statistically, but their defensive rotations and hustle plays kept Denver off rhythm late in the game.
Jokic’s Triple-Double Not Enough
Nikola Jokić posted another triple-double—26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists—but his 7 turnovers were uncharacteristic and damaging in a tightly contested game. The Clippers’ active hands and quick double teams forced him into awkward passes and disrupted Denver’s ball movement, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Jamal Murray added 23 points, hitting big shots down the stretch, but he missed a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds that could’ve tied the game. Michael Porter Jr. had 15 points and 15 rebounds, but struggled with efficiency, often settling for contested jumpers rather than attacking the rim.
Game Flow and Turning Points
The game was a seesaw battle for much of the night. The Clippers led 55–52 at halftime thanks to a 3 pointer by Kawhi at the buzzer, capitalizing on Jokić’s early scoring and Murray’s transition buckets. But the Clippers came out of the break with defensive intensity, and Kawhi started to assert himself more aggressively, scoring 10 straight points during a third-quarter run that shifted momentum.
The fourth quarter was playoff basketball at its best—tight possessions, physical play, and elite shot-making. The Clippers took a 6-point lead with under 3 minutes left thanks to back-to-back buckets from Leonard and a three from Powell. A brief Nuggets surge tied it again before Leonard’s isolation dagger from the elbow put LA ahead for good.
Tyronn Lue, the Clippers’ head coach, praised his star man postgame:
“This is what Kawhi lives for—getting healthy for the playoffs. We know if we’ve got a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series. He leads by example, and tonight, he set the tone for everyone.”
On the team’s bounce back:
“We talked after Game 1 about playing with urgency. The guys responded. We were smarter defensively and trusted each other. Now we need to bring that same energy back to Inglewood.”
What’s Next?
The series now shifts to LA for Game 3, where the Clippers will look to carry this momentum forward. While Denver remains a potent threat with its MVP-caliber big man, the Clippers have shown they can match them shot-for-shot—and, more importantly, they now have a confident and healthy Kawhi Leonard leading the charge.
With the series level and both teams showing championship-level grit, this clash might be headed for a full seven-game showdown—and if Kawhi keeps this form, Clippers fans may start dreaming big once again.
