Kawhi Leonard drops 55, Harden: “I’m really happy for him”
Leonard also becomes the second player in Clippers history to score at least 40 points in two straight home games, joining Bob McAdoo – another detail that underscores the significance of his perfect night.
On a night destined to be etched into the NBA archives, Kawhi Leonard delivered the best scoring performance of his career, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-99 win over the Detroit Pistons. The 55 points he put up were not just a career high – they represented a statistical feat that is virtually unique in league history.
With this performance, Leonard became the only player in the play-by-play era to record 55 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a single game. Over the last 50 years, only he and James Harden have ever produced a stat line of this kind. A number that speaks louder than any adjective about the magnitude of the night.
After the game, Leonard explained why he stopped at 55 points, saying he chose not to re-enter the game in order to avoid unnecessary risks – and in doing so passed up the chance to surpass Harden’s record:
Yeah, T-Lue told me. I told him I’d rather not go back in and risk anything, but instead think about the next game. Hopefully we can win another one and find ourselves in the same situation again. That’s just how it went.
Kawhi Leonard
James Harden, more emotional, joked about Kawhi’s first 50-point game before shifting to a more serious tone about his greatness:
It took him long enough. How many years has he been in the NBA? Twelve, thirteen, fourteen? Something like that. Jokes aside, it was beautiful to watch. I’m really happy for him, because behind the scenes you see how hard he works. For everything he’s been through, just to get back on the court and look like himself again – it’s a beautiful thing.
James Harden
Leonard also became just the second player in Clippers history to score at least 40 points in two consecutive home games, matching Bob McAdoo. Another piece that reinforces the weight and significance of his flawless performance.
One final, notable detail: against Detroit, the Clippers started a lineup with all five starters over 30 years old, three of them over 36 (Harden, Batum, and Brook Lopez). A veteran group that, after losing 10 of their previous 11 games, has now found momentum with four straight wins, their longest streak of the season.