Los Angeles Clippers fans expected to see Kawhi Leonard have a good game on Monday night, but few expected him to play this well.
When the final buzzer sounded, Leonard had posted 39 points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block against the Denver Nuggets, giving his team a much-needed win.
According to NBA.com/Stats, Leonard shot all of that on a 78.9 field goal percentage.
That makes him the fifth player in NBA playoff history to score 39+ points, on 78.9 percent or more.
He joins just Devin Booker, Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Brand, and Terry Porter.
Kawhi Leonard dropped 39 PTS on 78.9 FG% tonight!
He’s the 5th player in NBA PLAYOFF HISTORY to score 39+ PTS on 78.9+ FG% 🎯
He joins:
Devin Booker (2023)
Dirk Nowitzki (2011)
Elton Brand (2006)
Terry Porter (1992) https://t.co/q3thl5w1rE pic.twitter.com/tdZoJn9qWE— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) April 22, 2025
If this is the version of Leonard that the Clippers get for the remainder of the postseason, the rest of the NBA could be in serious trouble.
There were doubts about him and his Clippers throughout the season.
The fear was that he would once again fall short of expectations, mostly because of injuries.
It’s been a long time since he has been this healthy and impactful.
The Nuggets are a very tough opponent, so if the Clippers are able to get past them, that will send a huge message to the rest of the West.
People haven’t had to consistently battle Leonard in the playoffs for some time and so there are many players who aren’t prepared for just how difficult he can be.
He may not be scoring like this every night, but he is also surrounded by a team that is talented and ready to play hard.
The Clippers are more of a threat than they have been in years, and that’s because Leonard is back in a very big and historic way.
NEXT: James Harden Praises Kawhi Leonard After Performance On Monday
