Kawhi Leonard pours on 55 points to help Clippers top Pistons

Kawhi Leonard did everything helium could connected Sunday nighttime to present an upset triumph for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Detroit Pistons.

The Clippers person been 1 of the worst teams successful the Western Conference done the archetypal 31 games of the regular season, portion the Pistons person been 1 of the champion successful the Eastern Conference. Leonard showed helium inactive had immoderate state successful the tank.

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Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard controls the shot during the 2nd fractional of an NBA hoops crippled against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)

He scored 55 points successful Los Angeles’ 112-99 victory. He was 17-of-26 from the tract and nailed 5 3-pointers. He added 11 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 blocks to his stat line. It was the archetypal clip successful his vocation helium scored astatine slightest 50 points successful a game.

The 55-point full besides tied a Clippers franchise record. He shared the full with teammate James Harden. Leonard had a accidental to interruption it, but helium kept his fourth-quarter clip to conscionable six minutes and near the crippled with nether a infinitesimal to go.

"Like I told (Clippers caput manager Ty Lue), I would alternatively play different crippled than spell retired determination and hazard it," Leonard said. "Hopefully, we tin get different triumph and beryllium successful the aforesaid situation. It is what it is."

Harden was teasing Leonard astir taking agelong capable to scope astatine slightest 50 points successful a azygous game.

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Detroit Pistons defender Jaden Ivey (23) drives the shot portion nether unit from Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard during the archetypal fractional of an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)

"It was a beauteous happening to spot however efficient, however effortless it was," Harden said aft the game. "It was conscionable truthful smooth. He got to immoderate spot helium wanted to and erstwhile you get to that spot it’s not adjacent astir the defender. It’s astir him making the shot.

"Overly blessed for him due to the fact that down the scenes you ticker idiosyncratic and however hard they work. ... For him, what helium had to conflict done conscionable to spell retired determination and beryllium himself was a beauteous happening to see."

Leonard has dilatory been ramping backmost up to velocity arsenic he’s dealt with ankle and ft injuries this play connected apical of the genu issues that person plagued him his full career. He already missed 10 games this season. He played 40 minutes for the archetypal clip past week against the Los Angeles Lakers and did it again Friday night.

"He’s yet getting steadfast and yet being capable to play capable minutes to beryllium precise effective," Lue said. "When he’s healthy, he’s 1 of the apical guys successful the league. We’ve been capable to spot that of late."

Los Angeles Clippers guardant Kawhi Leonard (2) and Detroit Pistons defender Cade Cunningham talk aft an NBA hoops game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/William Liang)

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The Clippers are connected a four-game winning streak with the Sacramento Kings coming into municipality connected Tuesday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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