Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is looking more like a two-time NBA Finals MVP every day and his shooting renaissance continued in Tuesday's 134-124 home victory against the Golden State Warriors.
Leonard, who missed the entire 2021-22 season after tearing his ACL in the 2021 playoffs, tied his career-high with seven threes as he led the Clippers with 33 points on 12-of-27 shooting (seven-of-nine from deep).
There were fears the former Finals MVP with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors would be robbed of the remainder of his prime by the injury, averaging just 17.5 points on 47/27/79 shooting splits in his first 15 games this campaign.
But since the new year Leonard has gone up a gear, averaging 27.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 17 games since January 2, while shooting 52.4 per cent from the field, 48.2 per cent from deep and 91.9 per cent at the free throw line.
When asked by the media after the game about how he has managed to get back on track, Leonard said he is never worried about his percentages.
"[My jump shot] felt good," he said. "Like I've said before, it didn't matter what percentage I was at, I was going to keep shooting the basketball.
"That's what I did, kept shooting with confidence. Percentages can't save you, just because I'm shooting 40 (per cent) doesn't mean I'm going to shoot 40 the next game.
"You've just got to keep playing the game and shoot the shots that you practice."
Against the Warriors specifically, Leonard said he just rode a hot start.
"I just made shots early," he said. "Team-mates found me, I got in a rhythm, and just kept going from there.
"I like that [our new additions] stayed aggressive tonight, they didn't defer, and they just played their game.
"The West records are so close together, so every win matters, but we just have to keep getting better ourselves."
The win improves the Clippers' record to 32-28, placing them fifth in the Western Conference, although they are just 1.5 games out of the three seed, and three games ahead of the 12th seed.
'No excuses', Carlisle insists as Pacers fall behind against Knicks
Rick Carlisle insists there are "no excuses" after the Indiana Pacers' 121-91 defeat to the New York Knicks saw them fall behind in the Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Jalen Brunson top-scored with 44 points in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks edged 3-2 ahead in the series with a commanding win that moved them to the brink of their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2000.
Pascal Siakam's contribution of 22 points proved academic for Indiana, who must continue their unbeaten postseason run on home soil in Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse if they are to take the series into a decider.
The Pacers are making their first playoff appearance since 2018-19 - and targeting a first Conference finals appearance in 10 years - and Carlisle believes his side's marginal inexperience proved crucial in Game 5.
"There are no excuses," he said. "But all the guys on our roster, I believe it's the first time they've been in a Game 5, tied 2-2, going on the road. So, you learn a lot in those situations very quickly.
"This is a different circumstance, and as a playoff series, it's going to get harder and harder. Their overall level of fight in this game was superior to what ours was, and that's the bottom line."
Tyrese Haliburton added: "They made a lot of shots today. But with the ones they did miss, they grabbed the offensive rebounds."
Meanwhile, Knicks guard Miles McBride saluted the character of his team-mates, who bounced back from a humbling 121-89 defeat in Game 4.
"I think the shift started in the locker room in Indiana," he said. "We talked about it and knew we had to respond."
Timberwolves' Edwards 'can't be mad' after Jokic masterclass
Anthony Edwards could only stand back and watch as MVP Nikola Jokic inspired the Denver Nuggets in their victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the night he received the Michael Jordan Trophy after being named the NBA's MVP for the third time, Jokic scored 40 points and provided 13 assists in a 112-97 win.
It was a victory that put the reigning NBA champions within touching distance of the Western Conference finals.
And Edwards, who finished with 18 points and nine assists for Minnesota, could not even muster the energy to be angry.
He said: "I just laugh. That's all I can do.
"He's good, man. I think I said that after Game 1 when we won, and Game 2, he's the MVP. He's the best player in the NBA.
"He showed it the last three games, three games in a row. He was special tonight. I've got to give him his flowers. He was that guy tonight."
Denver coach Michael Malone said: "He did everything for us tonight, and it was fun to watch."
Jamal Murray chipped in with 16 points for the Nuggets, though he was happy to hand responsibility to Jokic.
"If Jokic's scoring like that, there's no need to do anything special," Murray said.
"He's amazing, just the way he picks apart the game and reads the game and trusts his teammates.
"I'm guessing that for the big fella getting the trophy tonight probably motivated him a little bit. Just being at home was a lot of fun, the place was rocking, kind of felt the energy and he definitely had it going."
The Nuggets lead the series 3-2 heading into Game 6.
NBA: Jokic, Brunson both reach 40-point mark as Nuggets, Knicks take 3-2 leads
Nikola Jokić scored 16 of his 40 points in the third quarter and the Denver Nuggets shut down Anthony Edwards to pull away for a 112-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday.
Jokic, who was presented with his third NBA MVP before the game, shot 15 of 22 from the field and had 13 assists and seven rebounds with no turnovers as the home team won for the first time in this series.
Aaron Gordon added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray had 16 points for the Nuggets, who can wrap up the series in Game 6 in Minnesota on Thursday night.
Edwards was limited to 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points.
After the Wolves took a 55-53 lead early in the third quarter, Jokic assisted on four consecutive baskets during Denver’s 11-2 run for a 64-57 lead it would not relinquish.
His dunk with 7:12 remaining made it 98-80, and Jokic’s 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer gave the Nuggets a 14-point advantage with just over 3 minutes left.
Brunson powers Knicks to series lead
Jalen Brunson poured in 44 points and the New York Knicks dominated the glass in a 121-91 win over the Indiana Pacers to move a win away from their first Eastern Conference finals trip since 2000.
The Knicks bounced back from a blowout loss in Game 4 on Sunday and guaranteed themselves at least one more game at Madison Square Garden, though they can wrap up the series with a win in Indiana in Game 6 on Friday night.
Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday at MSG.
Brunson injured his right foot in Game 2 and was held to 18 points Sunday, his lowest of the playoffs. He shot 18 for 35 from the field in this one and reached the 40-point mark for the second time in this series and fifth time this postseason.
Josh Hart had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Alec Burks scored 18, Deuce McBride added 17 points after he was inserted into the starting lineup and Isaiah Hartenstein had seven points and 17 rebounds. The Knicks had a 53-29 advantage on the glass.
Pascal Siakam scored 22 points for the Pacers, who will try to stay unbeaten at home in the postseason to prolong the series. Myles Turner had 16 points, but All-Star Tyrese Haliburton was limited to 13 after averaging 29.7 over the last three games.
Brunson made consecutive baskets to extend New York’s lead to 13 early in the second quarter and then had the first bucket in a 9-0 run that made it 65-47 with 2:11 left in the first half.
Indiana had the deficit down to 70-63 on Turner’s 3 early in the third quarter, but the Knicks put the game out of reach with a 19-1 run that featured 3s by McBride and Brunson.
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