#kawhi return

[jrueships]

pg giving up the final hero shot of the night to kawhi on his return....

like we get it paul. he fucks you.

[kicksaddictny]

New Balance KAWHI IV: Performance Meets Style

Introducing the New Balance KAWHI IV: Performance Meets Style

Get ready to elevate your game with the New Balance KAWHI IV, the latest signature shoe from NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard. Priced at $159, this shoe is designed for athletes who crave both performance and a standout style on and off the court.

Superior Performance Features

The KAWHI IV is built for peak performance, featuring a responsive FuelCell midsole that delivers exceptional energy return. This means you’ll feel springy and agile, whether you’re making quick cuts or powering through your jump shots. The cushioning system absorbs impact beautifully, providing smooth landings and explosive takeoffs that give you that extra edge during intense gameplay.

The breathable mesh upper enhances airflow, keeping your feet cool under pressure. With reinforced overlays, you’ll get the stability needed for those rapid movements—perfect for players who thrive on agility and speed.

Sleek Design

Aesthetically, the KAWHI IV doesn’t hold back. It combines clean lines and bold colorways that reflect Kawhi Leonard’s signature style, making it equally fashionable for casual outings. Imagine stepping onto the court or into the street with a shoe that’s not just functional but also a statement piece.

Customizable Fit

The innovative lace-up system allows you to find your perfect fit, ensuring maximum lockdown for confidence during every game. Tailoring the shoe to your comfort level means you can focus on your performance without distractions.

Availability

Mark your calendars! The New Balance KAWHI IV will be available soon, so keep an eye out for this must-have addition to your footwear collection. With various eye-catching color options, you’re sure to find the perfect pair that matches your unique style.

For more information and to shop the KAWHI IV, visit New Balance's website.

Step into the future of performance and style with the New Balance KAWHI IV!

[turboacek-blog]

NBA 2020s: the USA vs World Era

In nba 2k the past two games they named 2010-14 the Lebron Era and the Steph era being apparently from 2017 to I’m guessing 2019?

There been some talk about the division and timeframe like would it not all be Lebron era for example or why specifically 3-5 years and so on like I would just say 15-19 to make it even with Lebron or just call it Lebron vs Curry era

But I want to discuss the current era of 2020-24 and potentially onwards

I want to call it the USA vs the World Era

Championships

Unlike the past decade the 2020s have had no repeat champions so can’t say a team dominated like Lebron Heat or Superteam Warriors

It’s been a different team each year and not in the 2010 way where every year has either Lebron or Steph in it

Something I noticed is that the main player of each team has been alternating between a U.S. player and a foreign player

2020: Lebron & AD (US)

2021: Giannis (World)

2022: Stephen (US)

2023: Jokic (World)

2024: Tatum & Brown (US)

So it’s been back and forth this decade so far and while we don’t know 2025 and on at this time if an era is 5 years like 2K did then this is a good frame to go off of

Foreign player dominance

Players such as Jokic Giannis and Embiid if you count him as foreign have won the past 5 MVP awards showing to at least a lot they have been the best players in the NBA

Not even counting Luka Doncic, Shai, and even Wemby now

And there has been a talking point about foreign players both positive and negative because of their dominance recently

To the point where the negative can be seen as xenophobic

Which has created a sort of USA players vs foreign player debate

Rivalry’s

While in a sense team rivalry’s are dead in the nba they’re are some player rivalries that make it a point touching on

Doncic vs Booker (Suns vs Mavs)

Doncic vs Kawhi/PG (Mavs vs Clippers)

Lakers vs Nuggets (Lebron vs Jokic) (I know those fans might deny it but they played three times in the playoffs in 5 years two of them in the conference finals and both teams are definitely trying harder against each other than others)

Bucks vs Heat (Heat with Butler has been one of those teams that stop the Giannis Bucks or at least give him trouble and they’re matchups in the post season has been consistent)

All these have a world player against a U.S. player

There’s other rivalries like Celtics vs Heat but these I feel are consistent and fit the theme in the past 5 years

Plus it’s a still a US dominated (in number of players) league so just lower odds for other rivalries with foreign players

Olympics

This isn’t technically the NBA but a big thing that occurred was the Olympics and is a good “finale” for this 5 year era

Not even discussing the “World Champions” / best in the world topic brought up by Noah Lyles

It was questioned if they could win Gold due to how much better a lot of countries have gotten and it was definitely tested in the 2024 Olympics

This while putting a pin in the U.S. vs World debate for Olympics since USA won, does bring up that when Lebron Steph & Durant retire the scales seemingly heavily tip in the worlds favor in some eyes going forward as it took 3 top 15 players ever to squeeze out those wins against the other top teams like Serbia and France

Plus other talking points like Tatum the recent nba champion barely playing, is Anthony Edwards ready to take over, and so on

Misc

Until 2022 the rising star game was USA vs World

There’s been a want for that to return and be applied to the main All Star game

More foreign players coming over to the NBA now more than before including top draft picks

NBA being more global by having games in Africa and other places in the world

If you include 2019 the champions were the Toronto raptors which is the only non US team in the NBA so while not led by a foreign player it is the “foreign” team and continues the back and forth pattern

All these make the aspect that narratively it’s been USA vs World players believable to me

I do think if a team like the Celtics repeat as champions it could skew some points here but overall at just these five years I prefer this than just calling it the Jokic Era because he has three mvps

Written Sep 19 2024

[ramtracking]

Kawhi Leonard returns for Clippers' Game 2 tilt vs. Mavs [ NBA ]

Kawhi Leonard returns for Clippers’ Game 2 tilt vs. Mavs [Highlights] Clippers star Kawhi Leonard returned for Tuesday night’s Game 2 against the visiting Mavericks. He had missed nine straight game with an… Kawhi Leonard rusty in Game 2 return for Clippers. Not surprisingly, Kawhi Leonard struggled to hit the ground running after missing most of the past month… Leonard missed the last eight…

[nbacolletion]

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard returning from 9-game absence for Game 2 vs. Mavericks

Leonard missed the last eight games of the regular season and Game 1 against the Mavericks with knee inflammation.

[openmindcrimecook]

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard returning from 9-game absence for Game 2 vs. Mavericks http://dlvr.it/T5wV37

[news4usonline]

Clips take game 1 against Dallas

LOS ANGELES - Without Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of their first round NBA playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks , the Los Angeles Clippers played with the energy they needed to jump out to the series lead. The Clippers attacked Dallas from the opening tip and proved they can advance even if their star player does not return. Ivica Zubac bullied the Mavericks down low from the start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. James Harden was passive early but scored 11 points in four minutes down the stretch, going 3-3 from three-point range, to take a 34-22 lead into the second quarter.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac goes up for two of his 20 points against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of a NBA playoff first-round series played at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2024. Zubac also added 15 rebounds in the Clippers' 109-97 win. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline Harden finished the game with 28 points and eight assists, and Zubac totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds. Postgame, several Mavericks' players and coaches credited Zubac's physicality as to why the Clippers were so successful. Playoff career-high for Big Zu ? ? 20 PTS | 15 REB pic.twitter.com/XOWEGXOeFX— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 22, 2024 "(Harden) understands that he doesn't have to do a lot of heavy lifting when Kawhi and PG are both on the floor, but when one of those guys is out, he has to step up and be aggressive scoring the basketball. That is what he has been doing for us as of late. I thought he really set the tone early, him and Zu, and then it kind of opened everything else up for us," said Tyronn Lue. The Clippers won this game in the second quarter with their defense, holding the Mavericks to eight points. To put things into context, Dallas was the seventh-best team in the NBA scoring basketball this season, averaging just under 118 points per game. They also have the league's leading scorer, Luka Doncic, who is averaging 34 points per game this year. Holding them to eight points is nothing short of spectacular. "I thought we did a great job in that second quarter of keeping them to 22 points, but we just couldn't throw it in the ocean. We missed layups, free throws, and wide-open shots," said head coach Jason Kidd. "Ready to get ready for Game 2" -James Harden pic.twitter.com/wk1HT2XchF— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 21, 2024 The defensive game plan is clear. Defend Luka well enough to make him take difficult shots while not allowing him to be the playmaker he is capable of being. LA held the MVP finalist to six assists, his fewest in eight games. Doncic was second among all players in that category this year. The Clippers changed their look and used different primary defenders on Doncic, including Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, and Russell Westbrook at times. They also attacked him continuously when they were on offense to wear him down.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) scored 13 points in the team's 109-97 Game 1 NBA playoff win against the Dallas Mavericks on April 21, 2024. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline Doncic and Kyrie Irving both scored over 30 points in the loss, but no one else was able to get going. Dallas was held to a season-low 14 assists as a team, something they must address before game two. "It is a war out there in the playoffs, metaphorically speaking, of course. We have to enjoy it and have fun, but at the same time, bring it to these guys. We are going against some Hall of Famers, so they are not going to make it easy," said Irving. "We just have to pay attention to what we can control." There is little doubt the Mavericks will bounce back from the disappointing showing. This team has too much talent and finished the regular season on a roll. Adjustments will be made, and game two is a fresh set of 48 minutes. The Clippers' biggest concerns coming into the series were Kawhi Leonard's availability and containing Luka Doncic. Leonard sat out while Doncic scored 33 points, yet LA got the win relatively easily. Read the full article

[college-girl199328]

Nikola Jokic spoiled the Milwaukee coaching debut of Doc Rivers by recording his 14th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets surged over the Bucks 113-107 on Monday night. Jokic finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Jamal Murray added 35 points in helping Denver gain separation during an 8-0 run late in the game.

Rivers was lured out of his role as an analyst to take over for first-year Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, who was fired after 43 games and a 30-13 record. He watched his new squad squander an early 13-point lead, fall behind by as many as nine, and surge back before Aaron Gordon ended the comeback by blocking Damian Lillard's layup with 24.7 seconds remaining. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who began a five-game trip.

Ben Simmons had 10 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in his return from a 38-game absence, Mikal Bridges added 33 points and Brooklyn routed Utah. Simmons hadn’t played since Nov. 6 because of a pinched nerve in his lower back. The No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft played 18 minutes off the bench, made all five shots, and likely would have had a triple-double if not for a minutes restriction.

Cam Thomas added 25 points for the Nets, who rolled to their highest point total of the season, had 41 assists on their 54 field goals and made 21 3-pointers. They have won two straight after losing seven of their previous eight. Keyonte George scored 21 points for the Jazz. They were trying to match an NBA record by scoring 120 points for the 12th straight game but didn’t help their chances by committing 17 turnovers that the Nets turned into 27 points.

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and Minnesota beat Oklahoma City to take sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference. Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert added 12 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, which had lost three of five.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and Jalen Williams added 20 for the Thunder, who lost their second straight after a five-game win streak. The teams split their four meetings this season.

There were 11 lead changes in the fourth quarter. A two-handed dunk by Edwards in traffic put the Timberwolves up 101-97, and Minnesota led by at least four the rest of the way.

Eric Gordon scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 22 and Phoenix handed Miami its seventh consecutive loss. Kevin Durant scored 20 and Bradley Beal had 19 for the Suns, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games and swept the Heat for just the second time in the last 17 seasons.

Jimmy Butler scored 26 points for Miami, which was 24-16 and fifth in the Eastern Conference just two weeks ago. The Heat are now 24-23 and three games behind Indiana in the loss column for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff berth. It’s the first seven-game skid for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Donovan Mitchell had 28 points and 12 assists and Jarrett Allen extended his double-double streak to 15 straight games, leading Cleveland past Los Angeles. Allen finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Isaac Okoro added 17 points — all in the first half — as the Cavs held off a late Clippers comeback and ended L.A.‘s winning streak at five. Cleveland is 10-1 since Jan. 3.

Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and Norman Powell 18 for the Clippers, who got within four in the final two minutes but fell to 2-1 on a season-long seven-game trip.

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, Donte DiVincenzo added 28 and New York kept rolling without the injured Julius Randle, beating Charlotte for its seventh straight victory. Josh Hart chipped in with 12 rebounds, eight points, and seven assists for the Knicks, who entered with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Brandon Miller scored 29 points and Miles Bridges had 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Hornets fell to 0-4 since trading Terry Rozier to Miami for Kyle Lowry and a first-round draft pick. Lowry isn't expected to play for Charlotte.

Jayson Tatum scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Boston rallied past New Orleans. The victory snapped a two-game skid at home for Boston, which started the season 20-0 at TD Garden.

Jaylen Brown added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jrue Holiday had 20 points and Derrick White finished with 17. The Pelicans led by 17 in the first half but were outscored 68-52 over the final two quarters to drop their third straight game. Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Zion Williamson finished with 26 points.

Domantas Sabonis had a career-high 26 rebounds along with 20 points, De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points and Sacramento rallied past Memphis. Sabonis finished 10 of 11 from the field and had 16 rebounds in the first half, a Kings record for rebounds in a half since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985. His previous career best was 25 rebounds for Indiana on Nov. 29, 2021, against Minnesota, and he surpassed it with 27.5 seconds left — part of a stout defensive performance by the Kings to close out the game.

Sacramento held Memphis scoreless over the final three minutes. Kevin Huerter added 17 points for the Kings, who won their fourth straight. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 22 points and Santi Aldama scored 16 on 5-of-14 shooting.

Luka Doncic had 45 points and 15 assists and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 36 points as Dallas beat Orlando. The duo accounted for 54 of Dallas’ 70 points in the second half, including 27 of the team's 35 in the fourth quarter.

Dereck Lively II had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen Hardy scored 18 of his season-high 20 points in the first half for the Mavericks. Paolo Banchero scored 36 points to lead the Magic.

Jalen Green scored 34 points and Alperen Sengun added 31 as Houston beat Los Angeles. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell scored 23 points apiece for the Lakers, who had won two in a row, capped by a 145-144 double-overtime victory over Golden State on Saturday.

Cam Whitmore had 20 points off the bench for Houston, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 18 points and nine rebounds in his return after missing four games with a sprained left ankle. Green and Sengun also had 12 rebounds and seven assists each for the Rockets.

Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Portland took advantage of Joel Embiid’s absence to rout Philadelphia. Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points and nine assists for the Trail Blazers, who lost four of their previous five games. Rookie guard Scoot Henderson scored 22.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points for the 76ers, who lost their third straight as Embiid watched from the bench with a sore left knee. Philadelphia was also without Tyrese Maxey (sprained left ankle). Embiid missed his second consecutive game. The reigning NBA MVP is averaging 36 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Daniel Gafford added 16 points and 13 boards, and Washington rallied past San Antonio to win consecutive games for the first time this season. The Wizards improved to 2-1 since coach Wes Unseld Jr. was moved to the front office and replaced on an interim basis by Brian Keefe.

Devin Vassell scored 24 points and Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who were seeking their first three-game winning streak of the season. The Wizards outscored the Spurs 31-20 in the fourth quarter.

[courtsidecatchup]

Optimism In Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Clippers have just signed their star forward Kawhi Leonard to a three year contract extension. The Clippers currently sit at fourth in the Western Conference and have been playing very well recently. This extension doesn't just guarantee the Clippers a star in the star studded city for at least another three years but also gives fans hopes of a return of their other amazing talent in the names of Paul George and James Harden. Leonard discussed this with reporters and CBS Sports quoted this in which he said, "With the conversation that I have with them about it, I think for the most part everybody is coming back," (Herbert). If the Clippers are able to retain these players they will continue to be a force in the Western Conference and be a tough team to take down in the playoffs. Los Angeles fans should be expecting this trio to remain with the Clippers and should be looking forward to watching these 3 men compete with the ultimate goal of bringing back a championship.

[defensefilms]

Joel Embiid Rumoured To Miss Game 1 Against Boston

According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid might miss game 1 of the 2nd round of the playoffs.

This is about as bad a time for this, and we’re at a point where we have to discuss this man’s health.

Joel had played well but not spectacular before going down with a sprained knee in game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. It follows right in line with the theme of these NBA playoffs which has been injuries to star players.

However it is time we had a bigger conversation about Joel Embiid and his health long term.

Now I’m basing this on whether he comes back or not, because if he is unable to return in time for the middle to end of the series, having already missed game 4 of the 1st round.

The word is that he could miss up to 6 weeks, and that basically means being out for the entire playoffs and the end of Embiid’s season. Coupled witht that are the rumours that he may require surgery for the injury.

Not good signs, and it feels like the turning point of his career moving forward.

Even if Embiid does return from the injury, there is too much of a history of the same thing happening every year, but the good news for Joel Embiid is that he has a lot of security in as far as his contract is concerned.

The Sixers re very committed to Joel and his current contract won’t be up until 2027. That means the Sixers won’t have the flexibiltiy to easily move him on or find trade partners if that’s what they want to do, but the rumblings will surely begin.

It’s a tough break for the franchise, and I have to admit my excitement for these playoffs has been hurt by the injuries in the post season.

Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis, Ja Morant, Julius Randle, Tyler Herro, have all had to sit out but Embiid’s injury is most alarming because of the amount of time the Sixers have had off since eliminating the Nets in game 4, and it was thought that Embiid would have enough time to recover, but I guess not.

The 2023 NBA Playoffs looked promising as the post season started, but the injury gods don’t care about your enthusiasm.

[vebstoreis]

"Clippers and Warriors: The Top Two Championship Contenders of the NBA Season!"

The article from The Athletic examines the chances of the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors in the current NBA season. The Clippers, currently second in the Western Conference, have improved their defense and depth while the Warriors have been boosted by the return of superstar Stephen Curry. The article points out that both teams have the potential to compete for the championship this year. The Clippers have been impressive this season with their balanced offense and suffocating defense. They have also strengthened their bench with the addition of Eric Bledsoe and Justice Winslow. The team's success will depend on the health of their stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who have a history of injuries. Nonetheless, the Clippers have shown they can beat any team in the league and will be a tough opponent in the playoffs. The Warriors, on the other hand, struggled in the early part of the season but have recently found their groove with the return of Stephen Curry. The team has also improved its defense and added depth with the acquisition of Gary Payton II and the emergence of Jordan Poole. The article suggests that the Warriors' success will depend on the performances of Curry and Draymond Green, as well as the development of their young players. In conclusion, both the Clippers and the Warriors have the potential to be championship contenders this season. The Clippers have a strong team with a balanced offense and suffocating defense, while the Warriors have the leadership of Curry and the improved defense and depth. It will be interesting to see how both teams perform in the playoffs and whether they can win it all. Read the full article

[creatiview]

[ad_1] Kawhi Leonard debuts his latest signature shoe tonight in Milwaukee, the New Balance Kawhi III Alpha Predator. Kawhi’s latest shoe will drop February 10 at NewBalance.com for $160. Interestingly, this shoe features a carbon fiber plate built into the FuelCell cushioning system, which “offers a propulsive energy return feeling,” according to NB. We’ve seen carbon fiber insoles (VKTRY) that have shown performance benefits, and this new tech from New Balance builds that right into the shoe. Doesn’t it also look like a raptor’s foot? Just sayin’. The aesthetic shows a Jordan 5 influence with the open mesh panel, but with modern materials like a lightweight seamless half-bootie that connects directly to the tongue. Paint splattered midsoles and a touch of reptile make these a great look on or off-court, in my opinion. According to NB, more colorway releases are planned which “tap into the mind of Kawhi such as Recharged Chakra, Lunar New Year, Sacred Geometry and even some that pull from New Balance’s partners and iconic colors.” What’s your take? (No Ratings Yet)Loading... Might cop these for Spring Training. 13 Days!!! [ad_2] Source link

[kicksaddictny]

New Balance KAWHI III

New Balance and two-time NBA champion, five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team player, Kawhi Leonard announced the release of the latest KAWHI signature shoe: The KAWHI III. Kawhi debuted the KAWHI III Alpha Predator colorway on Thursday, February 2nd when the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Milwaukee Bucks.

The KAWHI III Alpha Predator will be available at www.NewBalance.com starting February 10th with the suggested retail price of $160. Additional colorways will be launching throughout the season that tap into the mind of Kawhi such as Recharged Chakra, Multi-Dimensional, Sacred Geometry and even one that pull from New Balance’s iconic color.

Made for athletes at the peak of their power, a trio of insights from Kawhi guided New Balance designers in the development of The KAWHI III: responsive, explosive, and lightweight. The KAWHI III was built to bring the creativity of Kawhi to life. Kawhi’s incomparable two-way game informed the shoe’s streamlined look, lightweight upper, and full-length FuelCell cushioning. The debut colorway, Alpha Predator, takes inspiration from Kawhi’s dominance on the court similar to the apex predator who sits at the top of the food chain allowing him to the attack without fear of anyone getting in his way.

“Working with the New Balance design team is always exciting,” said New Balance Athlete Kawhi Leonard. “The KAWHI III brings new technology that allows me to take my game to the next level, and that’s super important to me and I am excited for other players to be able to experience it.”   

The KAWHI continues to use the benefits of a full-length FuelCell cushioning system combined with Energy Arc, that pairs a sport-specific carbon fiber plate geometry with strategic midsole voids, designed to increase stored energy to deliver a higher amount of total energy return. This technology was developed by the New Balance design team with the brand’s state-of-the-art Sports Research Lab and has been seen across the award winning FuelCell Super Comp Trainer and Coco Gauff’s signature, the CocoCG1. This represents the first time Energy Arc technology will appear in basketball.

A minimalist upper design features a lightweight textile and rich synthetic material construction, featuring a seamless half-bootie that connects directly to the tongue. The seamless method is also utilized at the heel with a molded adapt component that provides a more locked in and stable fit.   

“Performance-led innovation and quality are in our DNA, and our basketball shoes are no exception,” said Trent Casper New Balance General Manager for Performance Basketball. “We worked closely with Kawhi to develop a shoe that helps enhance performance on the court and take his, and other basketball athlete’s game to the next level.”  

For more information, please visit www.newbalance.com/basketball.

[skillstopallmedia]

Signed Kawhi!

Eight games were on the night’s program in the NBA, and Kawhi Leonard signed his return by giving the Clippers victory on the Charlotte floor. Dallas and Boston meanwhile impressed by beating Toronto and Phoenix. Absent since November 21 due to an ankle injury, Kawhi Leonard made his comeback on Monday, and that changed everything for the Clippers! The double NBA champion gave victory to his…

[ramtracking]

Clippers say Kawhi Leonard questionable for Game 2 vs. Mavs [ LA Clippers ]

Clippers say Kawhi Leonard questionable for Game 2 vs. Mavs [Highlights] Clippers star Kawhi Leonard remains questionable for Tuesday night’s Game 2 with inflammation in his right knee. Kawhi Leonard returned to the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup for Game 2 of their playoff series against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard missed the last eight games of the regular season and Game…

[benchonaquest]

Kawhi Leonard returns, hits game-winner as Clippers beat Hornets CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Kawhi Leonard couldn't have drawn up a better return. The five-time All-Star had 16 points, including an 18-foot jumper with 1.4 seconds to lift the @LAClippers to a 119-117 victory over the Hornets on Monday night in his return from a right ankle sprain. “I don't think anybody loves playing this game more than me,” Leonard said. “It gives me joy when I'm able to play. And it was great that I was able to make that shot.” Paul George, a.k.a. @ygtrece  also came back from a strained hamstring to score 19 Points along with seven assists, helping the Clippers snap a 2-game losing streak. @Reggie_Jackson and Nic Batum each had 13 points, and John Wall added 12 points and 12 assists. #LAClippers 🔵🔴 #BenchOnaQUEST 🏀 #ClipperNation #KawhiLeonard #PaulGeorge #ReggieJackson 🥽 #KawhiClippers 👋🏾 #NicBatum #TeranceMann #LosAngelesClippers #WeRepLAC (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl080HqMk4J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=