Kawhi Leonard’s long-awaited return to the court for the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks was a bittersweet affair. The former Finals MVP played 35 minutes in his first game in three weeks, but his rusty performance and the team’s overall shooting struggles proved too much to overcome as they fell 96-93 at home.
Leonard, who has been dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, showed flashes of his old self but was clearly not at his best. He finished with 15 points on 7-of-17 shooting, well below his regular-season average of 23.7 points per game. However, he did contribute in other areas, grabbing seven rebounds, coming up with four steals, and dishing out two assists.
The Clippers, as a whole, struggled offensively, shooting a season-worst 36.8% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range. Paul George and James Harden each had 22 points, but they combined to shoot just 17-of-42 from the field. Russell Westbrook had a particularly rough night, scoring just seven points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks were much more efficient on the offensive end, shooting 42.1% from the field and 42.4% from three-point range. Luka Doncic led the way with a game-high 32 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, while Kyrie Irving added 23 points and six rebounds. P.J. Washington Jr. chipped in with 18 points off the bench.
The game was a sloppy affair, with a combined 42 fouls and 23 turnovers between the two teams. The Mavericks took advantage of the Clippers’ miscues, scoring 18 points off turnovers.
Despite their struggles, the Clippers managed to stay within striking distance throughout the game. They trailed by just four points with less than two minutes remaining, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.
The series now shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday, respectively. The Clippers will need to find a way to improve their shooting and limit their turnovers if they want to regain home-court advantage.
