Leonard 'feeling well' after leading Clippers past Nuggets
Kawhi Leonard says he is happy to come out of the Los Angeles Clippers' win "feeling well" after helping them to level the series against the Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers bounced back from Saturday's overtime loss with a 105-102 victory over the Nuggets on Monday, with the series level at 1-1 after Game 2.
Leonard came through with 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting and 5-of-5 free throws. Dating back to 1962-63, he is the first player to score at least that many points in a playoff game while attempting no more than 19 field goals and five free throws.
It was his 15th 30-point game for the Clippers in the playoffs, the most in franchise history.
James Harden also contributed 18 points and seven assists, with Ivica Zubac getting a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Leonard was pleased to get through the game after another injury-hit season in which he missed the first 34 games because of lingering knee issues.
"I made shots tonight," Leonard said. "I just keep playing, try to stay in the zone, no matter if I'm making or missing shots.
"I'm just happy I'm able to move, you know, coming out of the game feeling well.
"I sat and watched these playoff games the last two years, so yeah, to be front-line out there, it feels good."
KAWHI'S 30-POINT GAME LEADS THE CLIPS TO THE GAME 2 DUB
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 22, 2025
It's his 15th playoff 30-point game for the Clippers, most in franchise history pic.twitter.com/xkzTgZW95N
Denver, meanwhile, lost their first game since David Adelman became interim head coach after replacing Michael Malone in the final week of the regular season.
It was a tight game in which neither team led by more than eight points, with Nikola Jokic finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. However, he also committed seven of 20 Denver turnovers.
And Adelman highlighted the high number of turnovers and their eight missed free throws as a significant factor in the loss.
"You can't miss right free throws in a game like this; that was a killer," Adelman said. "And obviously the points off turnovers, in Game 1 we won that battle, and tonight they won that battle.
"Games like this are a grind, and the possessions are so tough; those easy baskets going the other way are such a killer.
"Just seemed like every time we got back in, tied it, took the lead, a multitude of mistakes would follow that. Once you have momentum, you can't have mistakes like that...just felt like it was uphill all night."
The series now shifts to Los Angeles, with Game 3 taking place on Thursday.