Game 1 7 turnovers → Game 2 39 points, field-fighting success rate of 78.9%. Perfect reversal + PO DNA Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles Clippers' victory over Jokic and ace team wins by a landslide
Apr 22, 2025
|
|
The most close series is a showdown between the West's No. 4 Denver Nuggets and the No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers.
My expectations were right. Denver's 112-110 victory after extra-time first-round stoppage. However, the second game was different. The Los Angeles Clippers won the game after a close game, bringing the game to square one.
The Los Angeles Clippers beat Denver 105-102 in the second round of the NBA's Western Conference PO (best of seven) at Denver Ball Arena in Colorado on the 22nd (Korea time).
The main character was Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard, who scored 22 points in the first game but committed seven errors, hit as many as 15 of his 19 field throws, including four 3-pointers. It was a whopping 78.9 percent field-fighting rate. Leonard, who scored 39 points, dominated the game perfectly.
It was also a close game until the end of the day.
Los Angeles Clippers offense 98-97 with 2:23 left in the fourth quarter, one point ahead.
Leonard scored two valuable points with his signature mid-jumper. Denver responds with Murray's three-point shot to center after a 2-2 attack by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Tied at 100-100.
Leonard proved why he is the man of the playoffs.
Leonard's 3-pointer failed. Backcourt, but the Los Angeles Clippers caught the offensive rebound with a hustle play. When Leonard caught the ball, Denver turned to defense, connecting a simple yet sharp pass to Norman Powell on the left wing. Powell hit a three-run single. Los Angeles Clippers lead by three points again.
Denver responded with two free throws by Jokic. Then again, Leonard grabbed Bo from the top and coolly slotted in a signature mid-jumper past Aaron Gordon. It was similar to KT's ace Huh Hoon dominating the match with a cool mid-jumper in Game 3 of the KBL semifinal playoff.
The absolute ace of Denver is Yokichi. He is regarded as the strongest master of the game at this point. Denver's offense trailing 105-102 with Leonard's mid jumper.
Jokic made a pass, but Leonard blocked the pass path and made a golden steal. It was 38.2 seconds left before the end of the game.
It was the moment when the Los Angeles Clippers perfectly caught the victory. James Harden's breakthrough was missed for the Los Angeles Clippers, who lost time. There were still 12 seconds left. However, Denver got down on its knees when Christian Brown's three-pointer turned into an air ball and Jokic's three-pointer also missed.
|
|
Leonard, who was known as a strong league's best defender in San Antonio, has established himself as San Antonio's ace by securing options on offense as well. At the time, he emerged as the league's best airlift forward, showing no signs of losing out against LeBron James and Kevin Durant in their prime in the short term.
However, he went into long rehabilitation after suffering an ankle injury in the 2016-2017 season playoffs against Golden State. Relations with San Antonio also deteriorated dramatically. In the end, he moved to the Toronto Raptors in 2018, and led Toronto to its first championship in the first year of the transfer. It was amazing to win the first East and West Final MVP in history.
After being released as an FA, he confirmed his trip to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019. However, he suffered another major injury when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2020-2021 season.
He re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, but there were more games to rest than to play due to injuries.
He also failed to play in the early stages of this season. There was no timeline for his return. He returned at the end of the season, but he exposed problems in both offense and defense.
However, in March, he fully recovered his form. When Leonard joined the Los Angeles Clippers, which had James Harden, Ibacha Zubachi, and Norman Powell, the Los Angeles Clippers emerged as the best dark horse in the Western playoffs.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
