Vintage Kawhi Leonard performance leads Clippers to Game 2 win over Nuggets | Nuggets notes

The Clippers needed vintage Kawhi Leonard to even up the first-round series against the Nuggets.

Thats exactly who they got.

The Leonard that once carried the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship showed up to Ball Arena on Monday and led Los Angeles to a 105-102 win over Denver, tying the series at 1-1 with Game 3 at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.

This is what Kawhi lives for, trying to get to this point where hes healthy for the playoffs, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said after.

We know if weve got a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series.

That just showed tonight what were capable of doing.

Tonight, we needed every bit of it.

Leonard finished with a game-high 39 points on a jaw-dropping 15-for-19 shooting from the field, including yet another mid-range jump shot in the final minute that forced the Nuggets to have to take a 3-pointer to try and force overtime on the final possession.

Its the most points Leonard has scored in a playoff game since he scored 45 points in Game 6 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks.

But the biggest play Leonard made all night may have been the steal he came up with after he had just given L.A.

a three-point lead.

James Harden wasnt able to make it a two-point game, but he came right back and helped the Clippers get a stop on the final possession and prevent overtime this time around.

Not a bad night for someone who many doubted would ever have a performance in the playoffs like this again.

Every time someone gives up on him, he comes back, Lue said.

Hes a hard worker, hes dedicated to keeping his body right.

Sometimes, some unfortunate things happen.

Its not from a lack of work, its not from a lack of wanting to be here.

Hes gonna keep coming back and hes gonna get to this point like he is right now.

Thats why Im just so happy for him.

The tension from an intense start to this series finally boiled over in the third quarter.

After Jamal Murray hustled back to guard Norman Powell on the perimeter, the two got tangled up and had to be separated after their arms locked after the whistle.

Powell, teammate Kris Dunn and Denvers Christian Braun were assessed technical fouls.

Both teams were frustrated with the whistles in the game, but the Nuggets wound up shooting 10 more free throws than the Clippers.

However, Denver only made 14 of its 22 attempts, while L.A.

made 10.

Its little numbers like that that can make a difference in such a tight game.

Bruce Brown misses Denver so much he made a slight detour back to the Mile High City early in his offseason.

Now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, Brown is on his third different team in the last two seasons since leaving the Nuggets in free agency following his big contributions to the franchises first title in 2023.

Brown fell in love with Denver during his lone season in the city and has embraced the Cowboy Bruce nickname ever since, donning a cowboy hat and showing up for the big Game 2 against the Clippers.

He was even interviewed by Altitudes Katy Winge during the game and when asked if hes interested in making a return to the Nuggets, Brown said, Im a free agent, so if that opportunity presents ...

I miss playing here.".

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