Kawhi Leonard's Fourth Quarters Key to Clippers' Playoff Success
By Peter Dewey
Through their first 10 playoff games, the Los Angeles Clippers are 5-5 and trail the Utah Jazz 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinals.
It’s been an eventful postseason to say the least for the Clippers, but they certainly wouldn’t be here without the play of superstar forward Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard has been dominant in the fourth quarter when the Clippers win, so dominant in fact, that he’s been perfect.
That’s right, Kawhi Leonard has not missed a shot in the fourth quarter in the Clippers’ five wins this postseason. That’s absolutely remarkable.
Kawhi Leonard is still perfect in 4th quarters in Clippers wins this playoffs.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 13, 2021
43 MINS
43 PTS
16-16 FG
4-4 3P
7-7 FT pic.twitter.com/0MhgYnVaWH
The Clippers picked up a blowout win over the Jazz in Game 3 in Los Angeles and Leonard was lights out in the fourth going 5-for-5 from the field. WynnBET has the Clippers as a 4.5-point favorite to even the series on Monday in Game 4, but there isn’t much confidence in Los Angeles long term.
Despite being favored to even the series, the Clippers (+300) are third on the odds list to make the NBA Finals behind the Jazz (-115) and Phoenix Suns (+170). It’s surprising given the fact that Phoenix is up 3-0 on the Denver Nuggets that the Jazz are still such heavy favorites to make it to the Finals.
If the Clippers want any chance of upsetting Utah, they are going to need to get more help from their supporting cast. Leonard has undoubtedly been great, but Paul George and Marcus Morris haven’t been playing well enough in the series.
George rebounded in a big way in Game 3 with a 31-point game, but that needs to become the norm for him. Reggie Jackson has been the most consistent Clippers player behind Leonard, and it will certainly take more than that (not a knock of Reggie he’s been great) to beat a Jazz team that led the NBA in wins this season.
Leonard’s insane fourth quarter run has gotten the Clippers this far, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep it up in Game 4. If he continues to stay perfect in Clippers wins, it will go down as one of the greatest statistical accomplishments in NBA history.