INGLEWOOD — Clippers point guard James Harden has seen the work Kawhi Leonard has put in the past two-plus seasons to get his oft-injured body to this point. From his adjoining locker, Harden has watched Leonard’s unwavering determination to stay on the court and be productive.
So, when Leonard had put the finishing touches on a 55-point performance in Sunday’s improbable 112-99 victory against the Eastern Conference-best Detroit Pistons, Harden could only stand in awe of his teammate.
“It was a beautiful thing to see, how efficient it was, how effortless it was,” said Harden. “It was just so smooth. He got to whatever spots he wanted to.”
Leonard became the first player in NBA history to score 55 points (on 17-of-26 shooting), post five steals and three blocks in a single game.
He also became the third player in NBA history to have at least 55 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots in a single game. The last player to achieve that feat was Harden in 2019 with the Houston Rockets.
The two-time NBA champion also set a franchise record for consecutive free throws with 64, surpassing Jamal Crawford’s 58. He missed the second of two foul shots in the third quarter to end his streak.
“I just stayed hot and in that third, (Coach Tyronn Lue) ended up running me that extra four minutes,” said the ever-stoic Leonard. “I think I probably, I don’t know what I had at the time, but him seeing I had the hot hand kept me in and then shots were just falling.”
Lue said he kept Leonard on the floor out of necessity.
“We needed it,” Lue said. “When he’s healthy, like I say, he’s one of the top guys in the league.”
The Clippers needed Leonard and Harden to play at a high level if they had any hope of turning around a slowly sinking season. Now, they need the two stars to continue to step up if they want to add to their modest but impressive four-game winning streak.
Eight days ago, they beat the short-handed Lakers, followed by a victory against a solid Houston Rockets team. The Clippers added another victory on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, but this game was their biggest victory this season.
Few would have predicted that the Clippers, who struggled to beat anyone a month ago, could dominate the Pistons (24-8), who led the East by 1½ games.
“We’re in a huge hole, but we just need to continue to keep stacking days and keep getting better each game,” Lue said. “I thought we were able to do that tonight. Like I said, Kawhi, he led the charge.”
Led by Leonard, the Clippers attacked from the start, led by as many as 24 and repeatedly doused a late run by the Pistons.
The Clippers led 92-69 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Pistons went on an 8-3 run to cut into the lead, 95-77, but it didn’t last. Brook Lopez buried a 3-pointer, and Leonard took it from there.
“I’m more trying to get guys the ball and just sharing it more than what I’ve been doing,” said Leonard, who missed 10 games earlier this season with foot injuries. “But the coaches need me to be aggressive the entire game. And like I said, it’s just a different evolution. It’s me just trying to shoot more 3’s and trying to evolve my game to today’s game.”
Still, Harden was impressed and happy.
“Overly happy for him, just because behind the scenes you watch somebody and see how hard they work on their body,” Harden said. “And for him, what he has had to battle through just to go out there and look like himself.”
Harden finished with 28 points, four rebounds and seven assists and Nicolas Batum, filling in for a sick John Collins, added 12 points on 4-of-8 3-pointers. Derrick Jones Jr. scored three points and had three rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing the past six weeks because of an MCL sprain.
The Clippers came out attacking the Pistons, limiting them to 38.1% shooting in the first half, and building a 60-42 halftime lead. It was the kind of play that was key last season in establishing themselves as defensive juggernauts, ranking among the top five in the league.
This season, the Clippers have played passively, building leads but then giving them away as teams averaged 115.3 points against them, which puts them 15th in the league.
But they have shown improvement and allowed 99.7 points during their three-game winning streak.
“It’s been our point of attack defense,” Lue said about what has made the difference lately. “I thought we’ve done a great job, a better job with our guards getting to the ball, not leaving our bigs on the island.
“Our bigs also have done a better job of being up more to start … just trying to take up more of that space and they’ve done a good job with that.”
The Pistons, who were looking to get back on track after losing to the Utah Jazz on Friday, were led by Cade Cunningham’s 27 points. Jalen Durin added 18 points and had 14 rebounds.