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Kawhi Leonard did everything he could on Sunday night to deliver an upset win for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Detroit Pistons.
The Clippers have been one of the worst teams in the Western Conference through the first 31 games of the regular season, while the Pistons have been one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Leonard showed he still had some gas in the tank.
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard controls the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
He scored 55 points in Los Angeles’ 112-99 victory. He was 17-of-26 from the field and hit five 3-pointers. He added 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocks to his stat line. It was the first time in his career that he scored at least 50 points in a game.
The 55 points also tied a Clippers franchise record. He shared the total with teammate James Harden. Leonard had a chance to break it, but he held his time in the fourth quarter to just six minutes and left the game with less than a minute remaining.
“Like I told (Clippers head coach Ty Lue), I’d rather play another game than go out there and risk it,” Leonard said. “Hopefully we can get another win and be in the same situation. It is what it is.”
Harden teased Leonard about taking long enough to reach at least 50 points in a single game.
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Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) drives the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
“It was a beautiful thing to see how efficient, how effortless it was,” Harden said after the game. “It was just so smooth. He got to the spot he wanted to, and once you get to that spot, it’s not even about the defender. It’s about him making shots.
“Extremely happy for him because behind the scenes you see somebody and how hard they work… For him, what he had to fight through just to go out there and be himself was a beautiful thing to see.”
Leonard has slowly gotten back up to speed as he has dealt with ankle and foot injuries this season, on top of the knee problems that have plagued him throughout his career. He already missed 10 games this season. He played 40 minutes for the first time last week against the Los Angeles Lakers and did so again Friday night.
“He’s finally getting healthy and finally able to play enough minutes to be very effective,” Lue said. “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best in the league. We’ve seen that lately.”
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham talk after an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)
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The Clippers are on a four-game winning streak when the Sacramento Kings come to town on Tuesday night.
