On this article, Kawhi Leonard Climbs to Sixth on Clippers’ All-Time Scoring Listing in 137–117 Win Over Pelicans, MyntJ recaps the Clippers win over the Pelicans! Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Version. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket.
Context and Info
- Kawhi Leonard handed Chris Paul for sixth on the Clippers’ all-time scoring record
- Clippers shot 53.9 % from the sphere and 47.2 % from three
- 29 assists to only 8 turnovers
- Pressured 17 Pelicans turnovers and scored 36 factors off them
- Largest lead was 26 earlier than New Orleans minimize it to 85–84 within the third quarter
- March contains 5 video games in seven days, starting with a back-to-back in opposition to Golden State
LOS ANGELES, CA — Kawhi Leonard doesn’t chase moments. He absorbs them.
Within the Los Angeles Clippers’ 137–117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Leonard quietly handed Chris Paul for sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring record. No pause. No announcement. Simply one other managed possession inside his consolation zone.
That has at all times been his approach.
Leonard completed with 23 factors in 29 minutes, including 5 assists and dictating tempo at any time when New Orleans threatened. He shifted the ball mid-air to complete by means of contact, operated patiently within the midrange, and allowed the offense to breathe as an alternative of forcing it.
“It begins with getting stops,” Leonard stated. “Once we’re set defensively, we will get out in transition and discover open shooters.”
The numbers matched the attention take a look at.
The Clippers shot 53.9 % from the sphere and 47.2 % from three. They recorded 29 assists on 48 made subject targets and dedicated simply eight turnovers. New Orleans turned it over 17 instances, and the Clippers transformed these errors into 36 factors.
Head coach Tyronn Lue appreciated the ball motion however made it clear the usual stays increased.
“We acquired stops and took care of the basketball,” Lue stated. “However we had been gradual to the ball at instances. We’ve acquired to be higher.”
That remark carried weight as a result of the sport was not with out pressure.
Win over Pelicans: An 18-Level Cushion Examined
The Clippers constructed an 18-point lead and seemed totally in management. The offense flowed. The protection rotated. The ball discovered the open shooter.
Then New Orleans surged.
Late within the third quarter, the Pelicans trimmed the margin to 85–84. The constructing tightened. The momentum shifted. For a stretch, it felt just like the Clippers had been about to let one slip.
As an alternative, they steadied.
Leonard slowed the tempo. The ball moved aspect to aspect. Defensive possessions completed with rebounds. The Clippers responded with a composed run and reestablished separation.
There have been no ties and no lead modifications all night time, however that third-quarter stretch examined their construction. They handed.
John Collins, again after lacking two video games, introduced fast bodily presence. He completed with 15 factors, went an ideal 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, and grabbed seven rebounds.
Extra essential than the stat line was his exercise. He ran the ground, attacked the rim, and injected vitality into the frontcourt rotation. Even when a dunk try didn’t fall, the intent was clear.
His return supplies wanted depth because the schedule tightens.
Brook Lopez added 15 factors, seven rebounds, and three assists, functioning as each a flooring spacer and facilitator in high-screen actions. When strain got here, he moved the ball decisively.
Kris Dunn contributed 9 factors, 4 assists, and three steals, studying passing lanes and disrupting rhythm earlier than exiting after contact. His defensive instincts proceed to stabilize the perimeter.
Jordan Miller logged 32 minutes and delivered 19 factors, eight assists, and two rebounds. He attacked closeouts, created off the dribble, and transformed eight of 11 free throws.
He didn’t look tentative. He seemed comfy.
When depth produces at that stage, the offensive burden turns into shared reasonably than singular.
March Begins Now
The win over New Orleans marks the start of a demanding stretch.
The Clippers are actually on a back-to-back, touring to face the Golden State Warriors subsequent. March presents 5 video games in seven days, together with this matchup in opposition to the Pelicans. Depth, self-discipline, and restoration will matter.
Leonard’s milestone turns into symbolic inside that bigger context. The Clippers don’t want theatrics. They want steadiness.
On an evening when an 18-point lead briefly evaporated, they didn’t fracture. They regrouped, executed, and closed by 20.
The margin suggests consolation. The third quarter advised vulnerability.
The response advised maturity.
