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NBA Sends Message to Kawhi Leonard After 'Historic' Playoff Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 6:38 AM ET

The first-round series between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets is now tied at 1-1 following the former's 105-102 win Monday night at Ball Arena in Denver.

After losing to the Nuggets in Game 1 on Saturday, the Clippers leaned on the exceptional performance of superstar guard Kawhi Leonard to level the series. The two-time NBA champion paced the Clippers in Game 2 with 39 points. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that he needed just 19 attempts from the field to reach that scoring total.

According to NBA.com/Stats, Leonard became just the fifth player in the history of the NBA Playoffs to amass at least 39 points on a 78.9 field goal percentage or better in a single game.

The NBA's official X account reshared that post with a caption that read: "Historic efficiency for @kawhileonard tonight "

The other four players who pulled off such a performance in the postseason before Leonard were Devin Booker in 2023, Dirk Nowitzki in 2011, Elton Brand in 2006 and Terry Porter in 1992. Brand was still with the Clippers when he accomplished that feat in 2006 versus the Phoenix Suns in the second round of that year’s playoffs.

Game 2's result could have been unfavorable for the Clippers without Leonard's brilliant offense. Minus Leonard's numbers, the Clippers shot just 26-for-66 from the field for a 39 field goal percentage.

The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has now scored 61 points on a 70.6 percent success rate from the floor through two games against the Nuggets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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