In a thrilling game where Kawhi Leonard dazzled with 29 points, the Los Angeles Clippers claimed victory against the Toronto Raptors with a 126-120 win during Wednesday night’s NBA action
This success, which marked their seventh in the last eight games, came on the same day Leonard finalized a three-year contract extension. Despite the win, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue expressed his focus on the team’s readiness for the playoffs, aiming for the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance.
“I think half of it is great talent, and I think half of it is execution, and we got to be 100% execution with our talent, and that makes for a dangerous team,” Lue said. “When you get to the playoffs it’s a whole different animal, and so we’ve got to start building those habits.
“We’re doing it a little bit at a time, but we gotta start progressing a little bit more as far as being better with our execution and what we’re trying to do.”
The Clippers, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, alongside Leonard, are raising expectations with their impressive synergy. Lue emphasized the importance of flawless execution combined with talent, especially in the playoffs, acknowledging that the team needs to enhance their execution and strategic play.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors Updates
Leonard, contributing with three rebounds and seven assists, echoed Lue’s sentiments, recognizing areas for improvement. He noted the team’s sluggishness and lack of communication despite their overall strong performance.
“I think we got a lot to improve, you know, just like tonight,” he said. “They were pretty good at getting whatever they wanted, started getting to the free throw line. Those guys did a good job of pushing the pace, getting into the paint, as well as knocking down the 3-point shots. I mean, tonight felt like we were in mud a little bit, moving a little slow, no communication.”
George played a pivotal role, especially in the fourth quarter, adding 29 points to the team’s total, 15 of which were in the final quarter. This game marked the fifth season, where George and Leonard scored 25 points or more.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors Updates
The Raptors, led by Immanuel Quickley with 25 points, RJ Barrett with 24, and Dennis Schroder with 22, faced defeat in the Crypto.Com Arena, continuing their mixed results since acquiring Barrett and Quickley from the Knicks. Toronto, missing Pascal Siakam due to back spasms, faced a challenging game, as Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic acknowledged.
“I felt that we are really competing against a really good team. Our guys gave 110% of all their abilities today and we stayed in the game all the way to the end,” Rajakovic said. “A couple of missed opportunities to do a better job in the rotations, to take away a couple of layups and a couple of opportunities for us where we created a lot of easy shots around the rim that did not go our way.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors Updates
Harden and Ivica Zubac achieved double-doubles, contributing to the Clippers’ impressive record of 16-3 since December 1st. The game remained intense until the last moments, with the Clippers pulling ahead with a strategic 22-9 run and George securing the win with a critical 3-pointer.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will complete their six-game trip against the Utah Jazz, while the Clippers are set to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
