Kahwi Leonard stars as Spurs sweep past Clippers
Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers holds the ball away from Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three during the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Centre on April 24, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. PHOTO | CHRIS KKOVATA |
What you need to know:
- Leonard scored a career-high 32 points to carry the Spurs to a 100-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers
- Boris Diaw came off the bench to finish with 15 points and six rebounds in the win.
- Blake Griffin tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the loss.
- The Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards also won to take commanding 3-0 series leads.
LOS ANGELES
Kawhi Leonard showed why he is worthy of being named the defensive player of the year, putting his complete game on display for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
Leonard scored a career-high 32 points to carry the Spurs to a 100-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.
In the other playoff contests Friday, the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards also won to take commanding 3-0 series leads. No team in NBA history has ever lost after taking a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.
Leonard not only anchored the Spurs’ defence but he wasted no time putting his stamp on the game offensively.
He finished 13-of-18 shooting with three steals and two blocks, playing less than two minutes in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. Leonard was named the league’s top defensive player earlier Friday.
Boris Diaw came off the bench to finish with 15 points and six rebounds in the win. Two-time MVP Tim Duncan, who scored 28 points to carry the Spurs to their overtime win in game two, finished with just four points on two-of-six shooting from the field.
The Spurs will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in Sunday’s game four. The Clippers won game one in convincing fashion and lost a close contest in game two.
Blake Griffin tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the loss.
Chris Paul committed six turnovers and finished with just seven points. The Clippers’ reserves also struggled as Jamal Crawford missed all but one of the 11 shots from the field he attempted. The reserves had just 30 points on 41 shots.
James Harden and Dwight Howard set playoff career highs as Houston beat the Dallas Mavericks 130-128 and are now just one victory away from advancing.
