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Kawhi Leonard did everything he could connected Sunday nighttime to present an upset triumph for nan Los Angeles Clippers against nan Detroit Pistons.
The Clippers person been 1 of nan worst teams successful nan Western Conference done nan first 31 games of nan regular season, while nan Pistons person been 1 of nan champion successful nan Eastern Conference. Leonard showed he still had immoderate state successful nan tank.
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Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard controls nan shot during nan 2nd half of an NBA hoops crippled against nan Detroit Pistons, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
He scored 55 points successful Los Angeles’ 112-99 victory. He was 17-of-26 from nan section and nailed 5 3-pointers. He added 11 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 blocks to his stat line. It was nan first clip successful his profession he scored astatine slightest 50 points successful a game.
The 55-point full besides tied a Clippers franchise record. He shared nan full pinch teammate James Harden. Leonard had a chance to break it but he kept his fourth-quarter clip to conscionable six minutes and near nan crippled pinch nether a infinitesimal to go.
"Like I told (Clippers caput coach Ty Lue), I would alternatively play different crippled than spell retired location and consequence it," Leonard said. "Hopefully we tin get different triumph and beryllium successful nan aforesaid situation. It is what it is."
Harden was teasing Leonard astir taking agelong capable to scope astatine slightest 50 points successful a azygous game.
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Detroit Pistons defender Jaden Ivey (23) drives nan shot while nether unit from Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard during nan first half of an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
"It was a beautiful point to spot really efficient, really effortless it was," Harden said aft nan game. "It was conscionable truthful smooth. He sewage to immoderate spot he wanted to and erstwhile you get to that spot it’s not moreover astir nan defender. It’s astir him making nan shot.
"Overly happy for him because down nan scenes you watch personification and really difficult they work. ... For him, what he had to conflict done conscionable to spell retired location and beryllium himself was a beautiful point to see."
Leonard has slow been ramping backmost up to velocity arsenic he’s dealt pinch ankle and ft injuries this play connected apical of nan knee issues that person plagued him his full career. He already missed 10 games this season. He played 40 minutes for nan first clip past week against nan Los Angeles Lakers and did it again Friday night.
"He’s yet getting patient and yet being capable to play capable minutes to beryllium very effective," Lue said. "When he’s healthy, he’s 1 of nan apical guys successful nan league. We’ve been capable to spot that of late."
Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard (2) and Detroit Pistons defender Cade Cunningham speak aft an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
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The Clippers are connected a four-game winning streak pinch nan Sacramento Kings coming into municipality connected Tuesday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
