In this article, Kawhi Leonard Climbs to Sixth on Clippers’ All-Time Scoring List in 137–117 Win Over Pelicans, MyntJ recaps the Clippers win over the Pelicans! Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket.
Context and Facts
- Kawhi Leonard passed Chris Paul for sixth on the Clippers’ all-time scoring list
- Clippers shot 53.9 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from three
- 29 assists to just 8 turnovers
- Forced 17 Pelicans turnovers and scored 36 points off them
- Largest lead was 26 before New Orleans cut it to 85–84 in the third quarter
- March includes five games in seven days, beginning with a back-to-back against Golden State
LOS ANGELES, CA — Kawhi Leonard does not chase moments. He absorbs them.
In the Los Angeles Clippers’ 137–117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Leonard quietly passed Chris Paul for sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. No pause. No announcement. Just another controlled possession inside his comfort zone.
That has always been his way.
Leonard finished with 23 points in 29 minutes, adding five assists and dictating tempo whenever New Orleans threatened. He shifted the ball mid-air to finish through contact, operated patiently in the midrange, and allowed the offense to breathe instead of forcing it.
“It starts with getting stops,” Leonard said. “When we’re set defensively, we can get out in transition and find open shooters.”
The numbers matched the eye test.
The Clippers shot 53.9 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from three. They recorded 29 assists on 48 made field goals and committed just eight turnovers. New Orleans turned it over 17 times, and the Clippers converted those mistakes into 36 points.
Head coach Tyronn Lue appreciated the ball movement but made it clear the standard remains higher.
“We got stops and took care of the basketball,” Lue said. “But we were slow to the ball at times. We’ve got to be better.”
That comment carried weight because the game was not without tension.
Win over Pelicans: An 18-Point Cushion Tested
The Clippers built an 18-point lead and looked fully in control. The offense flowed. The defense rotated. The ball found the open shooter.
Then New Orleans surged.
Late in the third quarter, the Pelicans trimmed the margin to 85–84. The building tightened. The momentum shifted. For a stretch, it felt like the Clippers were about to let one slip.
Instead, they steadied.
Leonard slowed the pace. The ball moved side to side. Defensive possessions finished with rebounds. The Clippers responded with a composed run and reestablished separation.
There were no ties and no lead changes all night, but that third-quarter stretch tested their structure. They passed.
John Collins, back after missing two games, brought immediate physical presence. He finished with 15 points, went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, and grabbed seven rebounds.
More important than the stat line was his activity. He ran the floor, attacked the rim, and injected energy into the frontcourt rotation. Even when a dunk attempt did not fall, the intent was clear.
His return provides needed depth as the schedule tightens.
Brook Lopez added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, functioning as both a floor spacer and facilitator in high-screen actions. When pressure came, he moved the ball decisively.
Kris Dunn contributed nine points, four assists, and three steals, reading passing lanes and disrupting rhythm before exiting after contact. His defensive instincts continue to stabilize the perimeter.
Jordan Miller logged 32 minutes and delivered 19 points, eight assists, and two rebounds. He attacked closeouts, created off the dribble, and converted eight of eleven free throws.
He did not look tentative. He looked comfortable.
When depth produces at that level, the offensive burden becomes shared rather than singular.
March Begins Now
The win over New Orleans marks the beginning of a demanding stretch.
The Clippers are now on a back-to-back, traveling to face the Golden State Warriors next. March presents five games in seven days, including this matchup against the Pelicans. Depth, discipline, and recovery will matter.
Leonard’s milestone becomes symbolic within that larger context. The Clippers do not need theatrics. They need steadiness.
On a night when an 18-point lead briefly evaporated, they did not fracture. They regrouped, executed, and closed by 20.
The margin suggests comfort. The third quarter suggested vulnerability.
The response suggested maturity.