Kawhi Leonard stated that the Los Angeles Clippers are “not scared of nobody” as they head into the playoffs. His crucial shot saved the team during a tight game against the struggling Indiana Pacers, who have only 16 wins this season.
Leonard made a basket with just one second remaining, leading to a 114-113 victory after trailing 42-21 at the end of the first quarter. This win marked the Clippers’ fourth consecutive victory, preventing an embarrassing loss to the league’s weakest team.
Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland’s strong performance
Leonard played a key role in the game’s final moments, scoring or assisting on 15 of the last 17 points for the Clippers. Darius Garland, recently traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, contributed significantly by scoring eight points in the last 3:01, with Leonard assisting on two of his three-pointers late in the game.
After trading James Harden and sending center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin, it seemed the Clippers might overhaul their roster. However, they’ve performed well with a 15-10 record since the Harden trade and are 9-3 with Garland in the lineup. On Friday, Garland posted 30 points and is impressively shooting 51.6 percent from beyond the arc as a Clipper.