Leonard’s Only Shot in OT Lifts Clippers Over Kings in Dramatic 111-110 Win

Summary:

• The Los Angeles Clippers pulled out a dramatic 111-110 win against the Sacramento Kings 111-110 with help from Kawhi Leonard’s only shot in overtime.
• Leonard missed 12 of 18 shots, but his buzzer-beating hook shot in overtime helped lift his team to victory.
• The win strengthened the Clippers’ hold on eighth place in the West, pushing the Kings one and a half games behind.

Kawhi Leonard held the ball at the top of the key, the game clock winding down in overtime.

With the Los Angeles Clippers trailing by one, the 33-year-old made his move, dribbling right, then shifting left through traffic. As the Sacramento Kings’ defense collapsed around him, Leonard rose up and released a left-handed hook shot.

It bounced off the backboard, kissed the rim, and finally dropped through as the buzzer sounded, sealing a dramatic 111-110 victory for the Clippers on Sunday night for the NBA team.

The Los Angeles, CA-born, who struggled offensively for most of the game, had missed 12 of his 18 shots. However, when it mattered most, he only needed one. The game-winner was his sole attempt in overtime.

James Harden, praising his teammate.

Players make big-time plays and he’s done it throughout his entire career. For him to step up and hit a game-winner like that, it shows the confidence in the type of player he is.

Leonard clenched his fist and sprinted toward his teammates as the crowd roared.

We need these wins down the stretch. I think this will help us be a better team moving forward. Everybody was excited and know we needed it.

The victory proved crucial for the Clippers, allowing them to strengthen their hold on the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference while pushing the Kings 1 1/2 games behind.

It was a night of adversity for the Clippers. Head coach Tyronn Lue exited the arena before tip-off due to back pain, leaving assistant coach Brian Shaw in charge.

Lue watched the game remotely, and when the buzzer-beater dropped, he was just as tense as everyone else. Shaw joked

He looked like he was having a heart attack. The same way that we felt out there not knowing how it was going to go

Kawhi Leonard’s season has been filled with starts and stops. After missing the first 36 games due to a right knee injury, he only made his season debut in January. Even now, his minutes remain restricted.

But in crunch time, Leonard was ready.

“Just itching to get back in”, he admitted after briefly sitting out during overtime.

The Kings, led by Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, put up a fierce fight in the extra frame, but Leonard’s poise under pressure made the difference.

Just be patient. Even with 5 seconds on the clock or 3 seconds, you still got a lot of time to get a shot off, Just trust your work

And once again, his work spoke for itself.