NEW ORLEANS — When the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard in a landmark free-agency acquisition four years ago, the significance was obvious for all to see. A franchise beleaguered by a woeful record in high-stress moments now had their stone-faced closer, a two-time NBA Finals most valuable player whose pulse seemed to rarely rise above resting.
The vision was Leonard reprising his Finals role in a Clippers uniform. On Saturday, they turned to Leonard with seven minutes remaining under far different circumstances than ever envisioned back then — needing their star to save them from falling that much closer to the NBA’s play-in tournament.
Playing on consecutive nights for the first time since April 9, 2021, Leonard walked onto the Smoothie King Center court with his team down by seven points with nine minutes to play, coach Tyronn Lue no longer able to allow Leonard to rest as his team’s deficit grew.
