Less than three weeks ago, the LA Clippers were 6–21, getting booed at home, coughing up 29 turnovers in a single game. Now they’ve won five straight games, three of them against playoff teams, sit at 11–21. If you’re experiencing confusion, disorientation, or an overwhelming urge to check if you’re in an alternate timeline, you’re not alone.
Against the Detroit Pistons, Kawhi Leonard dropped a career-high 55 points on 17-of-26 shooting, tying James Harden’s franchise record. The Pistons entered as the best team in the Eastern Conference with the NBA’s second-best defense. Leonard responded by scoring 26 points in the third quarter alone and exiting early because the game was already over.
The question now isn’t what happened, it’s how real this is and what it means if the Clippers are a legitimate problem.
Kawhi Leonard looks like a different player
Robot athletic Kawhi Leonard is back; he put on the greatest performance in LA Clippers' franchise history. Leonard's 55 points tied James Harden's franchise record, but the context makes it even more impressive, as he did it in just 34 minutes against the best defensive team in the East.
Before that, Kawhi Leonard dropped 41 points on 16-of-23 shooting against the Houston Rockets, looking very explosive and dominant.
In the win over the Portland Trail Blazers, where his shot wasn't falling, Leonard held the line at the beginning of the fourth quarter with clutch free throws and defensive plays. He has truly been playing like a two-time Finals MVP playing 40-minute games and dropping 55 on elite defenses.
Additionally, Leonard looks really good athletically. He's moving well, attacking the rim with confidence, and showing the burst and explosiveness that made him one of the best players in the league. For a 34-year-old with chronic knee issues making $50 million, that's about as good as you can hope for.
The Clippers' numbers are loud and clear
Suddenly, the LA Clippers are a team that can shoot three-pointers. Against the Houston Rockets, they went 20-of-37 from three (54 percent), and on Thursday, versus the Portland Trail Blazers, they hit another 20 threes.
As usual in basketball, the shot-making improved, making the defense improve as well. Against Detroit, they held the Pistons scoreless on their first 12 three-point attempts and limited them to 7-of-29 from deep for the game.
Everyone has been active and involved, and even Yanic Konan Niederhauser has brought energy and physicality through hard screens. The defense looks completely different when you're making shots and playing with confidence.
The Clippers got even better news: Derrick Jones Jr. returned from his MCL sprain after missing six weeks. The timing couldn't be better as the Clippers continue their focus on the play-in tournament.
With Jones Jr. back, the rotation now features multiple defensive-minded players. He is joined by Kawhi Leonard on the wing, Kris Dunn is making life hard for ball handlers, and Brook lopez is protecting the rim. This looks like a team that can actually compete defensively against elite offenses, which seemed impossible three weeks ago.
The Clippers' test will come through sustainability
The LA Clippers aren't just winning, they're somehow dominating teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder were earlier this year. Efforts have been chipped in across the board, and as a result, the chemistry looks completely different.
Is this sustainable? That remains to be seen. A five-game win streak is encouraging, but consistency is the real test. If this group stays healthy and continues getting real contributions from its role players, they’re not just competing for the play-in, they’re a team no one will want to see come the postseason.