Kawhi Leonard turned Intuit Dome into a jet engine on Tuesday night. With the game tied and the clock melting down, the Los Angeles Clippers star shook free on the right wing and drilled a long two at the horn to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 126-124. The place exploded, and the highlight ricocheted across the internet within seconds.
The shot capped Leonard’s most complete night of the young season. He finished with 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 11-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep, and a perfect 7-of-7 at the line. James Harden added 24 points and 14 assists, while Ivica Zubac posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. The Clippers closed with enough poise to withstand a final push from Zion Williamson.
ESPN’s box score shows New Orleans dropping a 40-point fourth quarter just to get even before Leonard shut the door. The sequence that set up the game-winning shot felt clinical. After Williamson tied it at the stripe with 9.6 seconds left, the Clippers cleared one side of the floor, put the ball in Leonard’s hands, and trusted their best player to make the right read.
One subtle pump fake nudged the defender, one smooth gather created a pocket of air, and Leonard’s pull-up jumper never touched the rim. The NBA’s cut of the winner shows the clean release and the immediate bedlam from a crowd that has already embraced Leonard as the building’s closer.
This moment was also a needed tone-setter for the Clippers. The Pelicans shot well enough to steal the game and kept pushing in transition, but the Clippers’ stars delivered winning plays late. Harden managed the pace, Zubac controlled the glass, and Leonard authored the final word in a thrilling finish.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-stadium-erupts-kawhi-leonards-game-winner-pelicans
