Kawhi Leonard Shines with 12 Points in Clippers’ Season Opener
Kawhi Leonard made a strong return, scoring 12 points as the Clippers dominated the Hawks in their season debut with a 131-105 victory
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, Basketball, Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles: Kawhi Leonard is back! He made his season debut and scored 12 points in a solid win against the Hawks. The Clippers took control early and never looked back.
Leonard hadn’t played since the playoffs last year due to a knee injury. He shot 4-of-11 and grabbed three rebounds, plus an assist and a steal. His first basket was a nice 3-pointer over the rookie Zaccharie Risacher.
Even though he didn’t have a huge game, the Clippers looked ready for him. They played strong, especially in the second quarter, and led comfortably throughout the second half. The Hawks, on the other hand, seemed a bit tired after playing the night before.
It was a team effort, with eight players scoring in double digits. James Harden had a solid game with 10 points and 15 assists, while Ivica Zubac dominated the boards with 18 rebounds. Norman Powell led the scoring with 20 points.
Leonard’s journey back to the court wasn’t easy. After his playoff exit, he trained with the U.S. national team but had to withdraw and underwent knee surgery. He was initially set to play in the season opener but faced setbacks with knee inflammation.
After returning to practice in mid-December, he’s still working on getting back to full speed. The big question now is whether he can stay healthy for the rest of the season. The Clippers are hoping to keep him on the court, with their next game against the Timberwolves coming up on Monday.