Leading the charge was Kawhi Leonard, who put up stats that reminded everyone why he\u2019s one of the top two-way players in the world when healthy. Against the Lakers, he had 32 points, 12 rebounds, four 3-pointers, three assists, three steals and two blocks while logging a game-high 42 minutes.<\/p>\n
This performance wasn\u2019t an anomaly.<\/p>\n
It was the start of something special.<\/p>\n
The win over the Lakers was the spark that ignited the Clippers\u2019 turnaround. It ignited a season that appeared to be in shambles through the campaign\u2019s first two months and reestablished the Clippers\u2019 relevance in a crowded West.<\/p>\n
Despite Wednesday\u2019s 123-111 loss<\/a> to the Knicks, the Clippers have gone 7-2 over their past nine games. They have climbed from the cellar of the West into contention for the SoFi Play-In Tournament field<\/a>, a mere 2 1\/2 games behind the 10th-place Memphis Grizzlies.<\/p>\n At the center of this resurgence is Leonard, who has averaged a league-high 33.9 points, along with 7.7 rebounds, four assists and 3.4 3-pointers per game. He\u2019s also shooting 49.8% overall, 37.8% on 3-pointers and 93.5% on free throws in the past nine games.<\/p>\n Clippers\u2019 last nine games<\/p>\n Dec. 20 vs. Lakers: 103-88 W<\/a> (7-21) | Leonard: 32 PTS Leonard followed up his stat-stuffing performance against the Lakers with three 40-plus-point outings during this Clippers revival.<\/p>\n The first came on Dec. 23, as Leonard carved up the Rockets\u2019 then fourth-ranked defense for 41 points on 16-for-23 (69.6%) shooting, adding four 3-pointers, eight rebounds and five assists.<\/p>\n Five nights later, against the East-leading Pistons and their second-ranked defense, Leonard erupted for a career-high and franchise-record-tying 55 points in another two-way masterclass. Leonard scored with incredible efficiency \u2014 17-for-26 from the field, 5-for-10 from 3, and 16-of-17 at the line \u2014 while registering five steals and three blocks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a beautiful thing to see how efficient, how effortless it was,\u201d said James Harden, who now shares that franchise record with Leonard. \u201cIt was just so smooth. He got to whatever spot he wanted to, and once you get to that spot, it\u2019s not even about the defender. It\u2019s about him making the shot.<\/p>\n \u201c[I\u2019m] overly happy for him because behind the scenes, you watch somebody and how hard they work. \u2026 For him, what he had to battle through just to go out there and be himself was a beautiful thing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n The performance was transcendent as\u00a0no player had registered at least 40 points, five 3-pointers, five steals, and three blocks in a game since blocks and steals began being tracked in the 1973-74 season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe needed it,\u201d said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. \u201cHe\u2019s playing at a high level. To have 55 on 26 shots, attacking the basket, attacking the rim, [getting] steals defensively \u2026 he willed this win for us.\u201d<\/p>\n COUNT ALL 55 OF THEM THANGS!<\/p>\n & then go vote Kawhi Leonard for #NBAAllStar<\/a> \u2b50\ufe0f\ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/Jv5HNf46DK<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MBKbIFUwTA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That win over Detroit gave the Clippers their 10th victory of the season, but they were still buried in the West standings due to their slow start.<\/p>\n With more work to do, Leonard kept rolling as the Clippers got much-needed wins against West foes. He had 33 points in a win over the Kings to close 2025, 45 more against the Jazz on New Year\u2019s Day and a 24-point, 12-rebound, five-assist performance against Golden State (whom the Clippers are chasing in the Play-In).<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still trying to get better, individually and as a unit,\u201d said Leonard following LA\u2019s win against Utah. \u201cWe might not be contenders [right now], but we just got to keep fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the Clippers led the Knicks for much of the first three quarters before New York surged in the fourth quarter and won. The Clippers remain in New York to face Brooklyn on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass<\/a>), looking to close out this 10-game stretch at 8-2, and build on what has become a season-altering surge.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/kawhi-leonard-resurgence-2025-26-graphic.png\")
<\/p>\n
Dec. 23 vs. Rockets: 128-108 W<\/a> (8-21) | Leonard: 41 PTS
Dec. 26 at Blazers: 119-103 W (9-21) | Leonard: 28 PTS
Dec. 28 vs. Pistons: 112-99 W<\/a> (10-21) | Leonard: 55 PTS
Dec. 30 vs. Kings: 131-90 W<\/a> (11-21) | Leonard: 33 PTS
Jan. 1 vs. Jazz: 118-101 W<\/a> (12-21) | Leonard: 45 PTS
Jan. 3 vs. Celtics: 146-115 L<\/a> (12-22) | Leonard: 22 PTS
Jan. 5 vs. Warriors: 103-102 W<\/a> (13-22) | Leonard: 24 PTS
Jan. 7 at Knicks: 123-111 L<\/a> (13-23) | Leonard: 25 PTS<\/p>\n