Night after night, Kawhi Leonard, the LA Clippers’ franchise superstar, has stacked 20-point performances. First, he reached 10, then 20, then 30, and as it kept increasing, everyone’s amazement grew. However, Leonard has done it for 50 straight contests (14th in history), a massive feat that not even some of the greatest scorers ever, like LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, have achieved.
This is certainly something for Leonard to celebrate, and the best part is that the game he achieved it in is the same one he drilled a last-second dagger against Indiana for the Clippers; he ended the night with 28 points on 13-26 shooting.
Given that Leonard has peaked this season, is in great shape, and has his health in check, there are no signs that this streak will end. There is a very real possibility that he ends the regular season, and even the playoffs, with it still alive.
If Kawhi Leonard scores 20, the Clippers are in a solid position to win
The day Kawhi Leonard began his scoring streak was Nov. 28, against the Memphis Grizzlies. No one could’ve predicted Leonard would come this far, especially considering where the LA Clippers’ season was headed, yet he did, and deserves flowers for it.
However, regarding the start of it, one might wonder what the Clippers’ record has been ever since. The answer is a shocking 31-19. That equates to 62%, which is insanely good.
The Clippers winning at such a high rate, when Leonard scores at least 20, essentially means success is all but inevitable as long as he does what he’s been doing. The only challenge is getting there, and in all honesty, it shouldn’t even be considered one; he’s made getting buckets look easier than it should.
Additionally, it’s certainly worth noting that there have been a handful of nights where Leonard has been restricted in playing time. This makes the lucky number 50 look even crazier, as he is held back for health reasons and is still making magic happen.
Some performances to really admire: career-high against the Detroit Pistons (Dec. 28th), 29 points in 23 minutes against the Indiana Pacers (March 4th), and 45 against the Minnesota Timberwolves (March 11th).
That said, if trends continue, the Clippers will succeed in the playoffs. This is the dream, and for the rest of the way, fans should be monitoring Leonard’s point totals with hope that he gets to 20 some way, somehow.