After getting off to a rough start with his new team, Kawhi Leonard got hot and helped lead the Clippers to a 112-102 win over LeBron James and the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Since the Clippers were the home team, Leonard took the mic and addressed the crowd at Staples Center prior to tip-off. The Lakers fans in the stands really let him have it, though Leonard said afterward that he didn’t notice.
Kawhi Leonard with a message to #Clippers Nation pregame š„š„ pic.twitter.com/LEktemwgmE
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 23, 2019
He certainly played as if he didn’t, at one point sinking seven baskets in a row on the way to 30 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Lou Williams added 21 points and Montrezl Harrell had 17 off the bench for the Clippers.
The Lakers got big games from LeBron James (18 points)Ā Danny Green (28 points with seven 3-pointers) and Anthony Davis (25 points and 10 boards), but it wasn’t enough to hold back Leonard and the Clips.
Kawhi Leonard slips past the D and slams it HOME #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/OgvuzpXmEp
— Viral NBA (@viral_nba) October 23, 2019
Kawhi Leonard just put LeBron James in the spin cycle geesh š„š„š„ #ClipperNation #Clippers pic.twitter.com/8Tg7v0n1Sz
— Adam Castro (@Amcastro16) October 23, 2019
“He talks with his game,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Leonard. “I think that’s the way it should be. He was intense. You could feel that. You could feel the intensity. There’s no doubt about that.”
It was a great start to the season for a team that has designs on unseating the Lakers as the top team in Tinseltown.
Looks like Leonard is already embracing playing in Hollywood off the court as well.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the new Terminator ad is gold š (via @Schwarzenegger) pic.twitter.com/4ialzn3vwk
— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) October 22, 2019
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