The stadium erupted after Kawhi Leonard beat the Pelicans
Kawhi Leonard turned the Intuit Dome into a jet engine. With the game tied and the clock melting, Los Angeles Clippers the star broke free on the right wing and drilled a long deuce into the horn to win New Orleans Pelicans126–124. The place exploded, and the climax ricocheted across the internet in seconds.
The snap capped Leonard’s most complete night of the young season. He finished with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists on 11-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep, and a perfect 7-of-7 at the line. James Harden added 24 points and 14 assists, Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Clippers closed with enough poise to withstand Zion Williamson’s final push. ESPN’s box score shows New Orleans trailing by 40 points only to tie the game before Leonard shut the door.
The order he put it was clinical. After Williamson tied the game in the lane with 9.6 seconds left, the Clippers cleared the sideline, put the ball in Leonard’s hands and lived with their best player making the read. One subtle pump fake pushed a defender, one set created a pocket of air, and the pull-up never touched the rim. The NBA cross section of winners shows a clean release and immediate bedlam from the crowd it has already embraced Leonardo because the building is closer.
This was also the tone needed. The Pelicans shot well enough to steal one and continued to get into transition, but the Clippers’ stars piled on possessions late. Harden controlled the pace, Zubac controlled the glass, and Leonard wrote the final word.
It’s just one early group game of the NBA Cupbut that’s exactly the scenario the Clippers envisioned when they built veteran shot-makers, a tight clock, high stakes and clean looks for a killer mid-range jumper. One jump, one roar, one win.
2025-11-01 06:01:00
