‘It was nice’ – LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard makes long-awaited return from damage in preseason win over Portland Path Blazers

SEATTLE — After ready 476 days to return to motion, Kawhi Leonard wanted solely 15 seconds to launch and drill a 3-pointer once more.

In his first sport in 15-plus months, Leonard started his return to the court docket by hitting his first shot from behind the arc earlier than ending with 11 factors and 4 rebounds within the Clippers’ 102-97 preseason win over the Portland Path Blazers at Seattle’s Local weather Pledge Area on Monday night time

“It was nice,” Leonard stated of enjoying once more for the primary time since tearing his proper ACL in Sport 4 of the Clippers’ second-round sequence in opposition to the Utah Jazz on June 14, 2021. “Simply with the ability to put all that tough work that I did all through the, 14, 16 months, simply in a position to put it to check and enjoying in opposition to NBA expertise, it was good.

“Simply being on the market with the blokes and speaking, I missed it. It was a terrific expertise for me.”

Leonard performed solely 16 minutes, all within the first half, as Clippers coach Ty Lue opted to solely play his starters one half. That very same script additionally utilized to level guard John Wall, who made his personal return from a yr off and had 5 factors and three assists off the bench for the Clippers on Monday.

The Clippers performed their second straight sport in Seattle after beating Maccabi Ra’Anana on Friday. However this sport felt like a bit of greater than a traditional preseason sport due to Leonard’s return and Wall’s debut — plus the Seattle-flavored crowd.

With the NBA again on the town, Seattle basketball got here out in full pressure with Lenny Wilkens, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Jamal Crawford and Sam Perkins amongst these in attendance as followers chanted “Sonics” a number of occasions.

For the Clippers, seeing Leonard, who additionally had 2 assists and a pair of steals, again on the ground once more was one thing they’ve waited over a yr for.

“It was humorous as a result of PG [Paul George] requested me if I had the bubbles earlier than the sport, like [in] the abdomen,” Leonard stated. “I’m like, nah. There is perhaps a bit of [chicken] wing in there floating round. [But] I felt the identical means as if I approached another sport right this moment.”

Leonard, who stated he “undoubtedly bought so much stronger” after 13-plus months within the fitness center, used his muscle within the paint over smaller defenders to attract journeys to the free throw line. He did not shoot with the identical Leonard effectivity, making 3-for-8 from the sphere, however his timing will come.

A very powerful factor was Leonard returning and popping out of the sport wholesome.

“The physique feels good,” Leonard stated. “Clearly I’m not going to be enjoying 35 minutes, 38 minutes to begin, so it’s going to be a bit of shaky early most likely, however like I stated it’s a journey, it is a course of, and that’s what I’m about.”

Wall did not get many alternatives to flash the pace that helped make him the quickest level guard within the sport for a number of years. Competing for the start line guard spot with Reggie Jackson, Wall got here off the bench in his debut and gave the Clippers a glimpse of his passing. He handed up on a catch-and-shoot 3 to hit a wide-open Robert Covington on the prime of the important thing for a 3. On one other play, Wall attacked the basket earlier than discovering trailing heart Moses Brown, who fumbled the cross on what might have been a rating inside.

Wall hit a 3-pointer late within the first half for his solely basket.

“I might have proven off [the speed] within the halfcourt,” Wall stated when requested about not having many alternatives to run. “However I used to be simply making an attempt to run the units and get used to being within the second with sure guys however simply making an attempt to push the tempo and maintain the tempo into the sport … It is going to all come to me, it is all simple, like I do know I nonetheless bought the stuff I would like however now I believe for us it is simply making an attempt to determine totally different lineups.”

The Clippers hope Wall will assist them push the tempo extra after ending nineteenth in tempo of play final season. Lue stated Wall will begin the Clippers’ subsequent preseason sport on Sunday.

And Leonard stated he plans to play within the subsequent preseason sport as effectively with 5 days in between video games.

“Offensively, Kawhi, I believed he bought a bit of drained,” Lue stated. “However he bought some photographs he usually makes. However simply seeing him on the market on the ground simply makes a giant distinction for our workforce.”