Kawhi Leonard’s Last-Second Shot Leads Clippers to a Remarkable Comeback Victory Against the Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — In a dramatic comeback, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-113 on Friday night, led by a clutch jumper from Kawhi Leonard with just 0.4 seconds remaining. This victory marks the Clippers’ fourth consecutive win.
Leonard finished the game with 28 points, extending his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 50 consecutive games. Darius Garland was the leading scorer for the Clippers with 30 points.
The game started off poorly for the Clippers, who found themselves trailing by 24 points early on. The Pacers capitalized with a remarkable shooting performance, hitting eight of 11 three-point attempts in the first quarter, establishing a commanding 42-21 lead.
The situation worsened for Los Angeles as the Pacers pushed their lead to 45-21 at the start of the second quarter. However, the Clippers launched a resilient comeback, ultimately securing a milestone victory for head coach Tyronn Lue, marking the 400th win of his career.
In the final moments of the game, Obi Toppin’s jumper gave Indiana a 113-108 lead with one minute left. Leonard quickly answered with a jumper, followed by Garland’s two successful free throws. After a miss from Pascal Siakam, the Clippers regained possession. They inbounded the ball to Leonard, who skillfully dribbled to the center and sank the game-winning shot.
Leonard’s achievement solidifies his place in NBA history, making him the 14th player to score at least 20 points in 50 straight games, a streak that began on November 28.
The Pacers, despite the defeat, had notable contributions from Aaron Nesmith, who scored 26 points, and Toppin, who added 20. Bennedict Mathurin tallied 17 points against his former team, going an impressive 12 for 15 on free throws.
However, the night was marked by adversity for Indiana, as they lost forward Jarace Walker to a concussion in the first half. The Pacers have now dropped two consecutive games following the end of their remarkable 16-game winning streak.
The Clippers will look to continue their winning momentum when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
