Kawhi Leonard’s hilarious response to Jamal Murray’s missed free throw

The LA Clippers won Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, thanks great points by Benedict Maturin and Kawhi Leonard. They too, however, received assistance from Jamal Murray.

A three-point drop, the first-time NBA All-Star Nuggets guard was fouled on a three-point shot attempt with 0.9 left on the clock and no timeouts for either team. Murray, a historic free-throw shooter, got to the free-throw line toward the Clippers wall with a chance to tie the game and nearly send it into overtime.

Jamal Murray burst first free throw, hit the back of the rim on the second free throw he made, then had to wait approximately 30 seconds for a substitution before making his third and final free throw to tie the game. That shot swung to the right side of the rim and rolled right to left, effectively giving the Clippers the win.

Jamal Murray against the wall… misses the last of 3 free throws to tie the game and the Clippers hang on for the win. pic.twitter.com/nFuVFgi1Gk

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026

“What was going through my head?” Kawhi Leonard did it again when asked that question after the game. “Uh, I was just hoping he missed one, really, shit,” Kawhi Leonard said. “I mean, we were three up, he knocked down the first two, so he was just hoping he missed.

Kawhi Leonard on what was going through his head during Jamal Murray’s game-tying free throws:

“I was just hoping he’d miss one, really, shit. I mean, we were three up, he knocked down the first two, so he was really just hoping he missed.” https://t.co/BIVzOvVuLO pic.twitter.com/0oG8ibH6oS

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026

An 88.7 percent shooter on the season, Jamal Murray has missed 11 free throws in clutch situations (defined as a five-point game in the final five minutes) this season. Murray is also just 11 of 18 from the free-throw line in the final minute of a game separated by three points or less this season.

Kawhi Leonard finished Thursday night’s game with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting with four rebounds and three assists. The Clippers forward was apparently dealing with some sort of cold or illness after the game, making Benedict Maturin’s big performance much needed.

In just his third game with the LA Clippers, Maturin scored 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line. The 38-point performance is the best by a Clippers in his home debut and also tied a career high for the fourth-year guard from Arizona.