Kawhi Leonard drops 39 points to help Clippers even the series with Nuggets.

 DENVER – This time last year, Kawhi Leonard was struggling. It was hard to watch him try to push through the pain from the inflammation in his right knee before the LA Clippers ultimately decided to shut him down before Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

It took months for Leonard to recover from the injury—so long that the Clippers had to figure out how to move forward without him at the start of this season. By then, reporters had stopped asking coach Tyronn Lue for updates on Leonard’s status.

But behind the scenes, Leonard was putting in the work to return to form, and on Monday night, he delivered a performance that made it all worth it. In the Clippers’ 105-102 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference series at Ball Arena, Leonard scored 39 points, shooting an impressive 15-of-19 from the field.

“I’m just happy that I’m able to move,” Leonard said after the game. “That’s what I’m taking pride in – just being healthy. I’ve sat and watched these playoff games the past two years, so to be back out there, it feels good, no matter how the game goes.”

A year ago, Leonard sat out for 23 days due to knee inflammation while trying to prepare for the playoffs, only for the injury to persist, ultimately keeping him out of the series. At that time, it seemed like the Clippers’ championship window, which had opened with Leonard’s arrival in 2019 and expanded with the addition of Paul George and later James Harden, was closing. George left as a free agent last summer, while Leonard and Harden re-signed to team-friendly deals.

This season, Leonard played in just 37 games, working to get his knee into a condition that would allow him to contribute in the playoffs. And so far, it seems to be paying off.

“Tonight, it felt like he didn’t miss a shot,” said Harden, who witnessed Leonard’s stellar performance firsthand. “His shot-making is elite. That’s the aggressiveness we need from him. No matter who’s guarding him, he just gets to his spot and knocks down shots. He’s a big-time player.”

Leonard was also a defensive force, holding the Nuggets to just five points on 2-of-12 shooting when he was the primary defender. His crucial steal of a Nikola Jokic pass with 38 seconds left, leading to the Clippers clinging to a three-point lead, was a game-changing moment.

While Leonard keeps his focus on the present, never dwelling too much on the past, he did take a moment to thank the staff who had supported him through his injury struggles over the last few years.

“Anyone who’s been in this business and has had to come back from injury knows what we go through,” Leonard said. “I’m not playing the same as before. I could be playing better or worse, but right now, I’m focused on this team and this situation. I’m playing hard, having fun, and accepting the results.”

Harden, who’s been with the Clippers for two seasons, spoke to the daily work Leonard puts in behind the scenes to get back to playing at a high level.

“It’s the preparation, the treatments, strengthening, everything that goes into it,” Harden said. “He loves to play. When he’s out there, he’s a killer. I’m glad to see him in a good space now.”

Leonard’s dominant play, particularly in the final month of the regular season, set the stage for his performance on Monday. However, the Clippers needed every bit of it to beat the Nuggets, as Jokic recorded yet another triple-double (26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), but struggled with the defensive coverage and physicality that Leonard and the Clippers threw at him. Jokic finished with seven turnovers and missed four free throws.

Jamal Murray added 23 points, and Michael Porter Jr. had 15, but Denver couldn’t find a way to answer Leonard's brilliance. The Nuggets’ 20 turnovers led to 21 points for the Clippers, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

The series now heads to Los Angeles, with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday night.