Kawhi Leonard went off again and saved the Clippers in the process

Kawhi Leonard is back to doing Kawhi Leonard things in the playoffs.

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On Friday night the Los Angeles Clippers were close to seeing another season end in disappointing fashion, as they trailed the Mavs in Game 6 and were staring an all-too-familiar nightmare right in the face.

Then Kawhi Leonard did what we’ve seen Kawhi Leonard do so many times in the playoffs – he went off. Leonard hit all five of the shots that he took in the fourth quarter, including two huge back-to-back 3-pointers, and tied his career playoff high with 45 points. More importantly, the Clippers won the game and then took Game 7 yesterday at home to advance to a date with the Jazz in the second round.

Leonard had 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in Game 7. If you do some quick math you’ll see he had a combined 73 points in the last two games. That’s what stars do when their team needs to be carried. Leonard isn’t a big fan of talking but his play the past two games was loud enough for the rest of the league to take notice – when Kawhi is locked in during the playoffs he’s somebody you don’t want to face.

A loss to the Mavs would have been devastating to a Clippers franchise that is used to devastating playoff losses. When Leonard and Paul George came to town before the start of last season they were supposed to instantly contend for titles. Instead, last season they lost in the second round and this year they came close to losing in the first.

The Clippers are still very much alive this morning and with Leonard coming off these incredible performances you have to think they’ll be riding some momentum into Utah when their series kicks off on Thursday.

Leonard’s championship run with the Toronto Raptors was just two years ago but it already seems like it happened so long ago. Leonard was unstoppable in the playoffs that year. Absolutely unstoppable. He took over down the stretch of just about every win. He hit monster shots that will be remembered forever (Sixers fans will never forget that buzzer-beater). He was easily the best player in the world during that stretch.

Now it looks like he’s ready to do that again, which is great for the Clippers, their fans, and anyone who enjoys watching an artist at work.

Though maybe not great for the Jazz.

Quick hits: Falcons roasted for Julio Jones tweet… Baseball lands in ump’s pocket… Odd delay in Philly… And more. 

– Julio Jones was traded to the Titans on Sunday and the Falcons used a weird image of the WR to show their respect.

– Here’s something I’ve never seen before – Arizona State’s baseball team scored a run after a pitch somehow ended up in the home plate ump’s shirt pocket. For real, that actually happened.

– Sunday’s Nats-Phillies game was hilariously delayed for a bit after the netting behind home plate collapsed.

– You need to see the penalty kick save Ethan Horvath made in extra time to win USMNT the Nations League title. Wow.

– Luca Doncic became a funny meme during the Mavs’ Game 7 loss.