Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers have officially punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, successfully navigating the regular season to avoid the precarious path of the Play-in Tournament. Their decisive 124-119 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at Chase Center in San Francisco sealed their postseason berth.
Despite facing a significant 12-point deficit against a determined Golden State squad, the Clippers demonstrated resilience and composure, rallying to secure a crucial win that simultaneously relegated the Warriors to the play-in scenario.
For Leonard and the Clippers, the upcoming playoffs represent an opportunity to overcome a persistent first-round hurdle that has plagued their recent postseason campaigns, with exits in the opening round in both 2023 and 2024. This year, without the presence of Paul George, the team’s hopes for a deep playoff run heavily rely on Leonard maintaining his health and performing at his peak.
Los Angeles Clippers: Kawhi Leonard’s Injury Status
When questioned by Law Murray of The Athletic about his physical condition heading into the playoffs – a stark contrast to last year when a knee issue limited him to just a couple of postseason games – Leonard expressed a sense of readiness. “It’s great,” he said, adding, “You gotta stay the course and be able to feel how I’m feeling now and trying to keep that moving. Like I said I want to have a healthy offseason. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Against the Warriors, Leonard provided a compelling preview of his postseason capabilities, leading the team with an efficient 33 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the field, including four successful three-pointers out of eight attempts. He also contributed six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in a demanding 47 minutes of play.
Complementing Leonard’s stellar performance, James Harden delivered an MVP-caliber outing, leading all scorers with 39 points on 13-for-23 shooting while also dishing out 10 assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Together, Leonard and Harden effectively countered the formidable offensive duo of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler (Butler actually plays for the Miami Heat, not the Warriors), who combined for 66 points for the home team.
Securing the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Clippers now face a challenging first-round matchup against the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic. Notably, the Clippers and the Nuggets demonstrated a competitive balance during the regular season, splitting their four-game series and setting the stage for what promises to be an intense and compelling playoff encounter.