Los Angeles Clippers faced off against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon in a crucial matchup with NBA playoff seeding on the line. In a high-stakes battle that felt like a postseason preview, the Clippers came out on top with a 124-119 overtime victory, led by a standout performance from Kawhi Leonard—who later spoke about the team’s form and what lies ahead in the playoffs.
Leonard didn’t start the season on the court for the Clippers, instead spending the early months rehabbing from a knee procedure undergone in the preseason. The goal: to be ready when it mattered most—in April and beyond.
He delivered on that plan Sunday night, posting a season-high 33 points along with six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in 47 minutes of play. It was a dominant showing from the two-time Finals MVP, who embraced the intensity of the moment.
“It was a great game,” Leonard said after the win. “This is one that put us in the playoffs. I’ve been through something like this before—in 2015, I think. We won 55 games, were the six-seed, and if we’d won the last game, we might’ve been the second or third seed. So it’s a little similar. We got the win this time. Last one, I lost—so I’m happy.”
The win locked the Clippers into the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round showdown with the defending champion Denver Nuggets and MVP candidate Nikola Jokić. Despite Denver’s pedigree, L.A. enters the series riding a wave of momentum, making them a trendy pick among analysts and fans alike.
Kawhi reflects on health ahead of playoffs
More than just a win, Sunday’s result underscored Leonard’s physical readiness. After a NBA season defined by careful load management and steady recovery, the Clippers star feels primed for the playoff grind.
“It felt good,” Leonard said when asked about his health. “I’m happy that I have a great organization behind me that allowed me to get healthy and knew exactly what I needed to do. They let me reach out to outside sources and collaborated. Like I said, it’s not over yet. We’ve still got a playoff series to try to win. I just want to keep going from here, have a good playoffs, a healthy offseason, and keep building.”
Leonard’s 2024–25 regular season by the numbers
In 37 regular season games, Leonard averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting an efficient 49.8% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc.
“It’s great,” he said of his late-season rhythm. “Now you’ve got to stay the course, try to hold onto that feeling, and keep it moving. I want to have a healthy offseason—and that’s what I’m striving for.”