Kawhi Leonard showcased his brilliance once again, scoring an impressive 36 points, including a pivotal 11 in the fourth quarter, steering the Los Angeles Clippers to a thrilling 149-144 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
The Clippers, under the leadership of James Harden’s 30 points and 10 assists, along with Paul George’s 18, displayed resilience and team effort throughout the game. Trae Young, the Eastern Conference player of the week, contributed 25 points, while De’Andre Hunter had an outstanding performance off the bench, matching a season-high with 27 points for the Hawks, who had previously secured four consecutive wins.
The Clippers concluded a challenging 13-day road trip with an impressive 6-1 record, underscoring their dominance in the league since November 30 with a remarkable 26-5 record. Coach Tyronn Lue expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, especially considering the tough opponents they faced during the road trip.
“To go 6-1 against the caliber of teams we played on this trip, coming into it, we knew tonight was going to be tough,” Lue said. “Got down early in the second half, continued to keep fighting. It was a total team effort.”
The Clippers demonstrated remarkable efficiency, shooting an impressive 60% from beyond the arc, while the Hawks finished at 51.3%. The 149 points marked the second-highest scoring game for the Clippers this season, and their ability to protect the ball, with only seven turnovers, contributed significantly to their success.
“Taking care of the basketball has always been a big key for us,” Lue emphasized. “We are too good offensively to turn it over. If we get shots up, we’re going to be pretty good.”
Leonard, named the Western Conference player of the week, played a crucial role in a decisive 8-2 run in the final minutes, hitting a crucial 3-pointer, converting a three-point play, and facilitating a layup that propelled the Clippers to a 139-130 lead.
Despite the win, Lue expressed disappointment with the Clippers’ defensive lapses, particularly in allowing 43 points in the fourth quarter. He emphasized the need for improvement and defensive consistency as the team returns home.
“We’ve got to get back home and be better (on defense),” he said. “I don’t know if it was fatigue. Guys have played a lot of games, a lot of minutes. I’ll give them a little bit of a break with that, but we have to be better. We had some slippage, so we have to get home and clean this stuff up.”
The game featured a back-and-forth third quarter, culminating in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Daniel Theis, giving the Clippers a narrow 102-101 lead entering the fourth quarter. Young managed to tie the score at 66 with a driving hoop just before halftime.
Notable absentees from the game were Clint Capela, the Hawks’ starting center, who sat out due to a left adductor strain, and the Clippers’ starting center Ivica Zubac, who missed the game with a right calf strain. Both players are expected to be re-evaluated in the coming days.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, while the Hawks will face the Boston Celtics on the same day. The Clippers aim to build on their road trip success, emphasizing defensive improvements and sustained offensive efficiency.
