Clippers 119, Wizards 105: Kawhi Leonard posts 53.6 fantasy points
Hiro Tanaka
Physical Therapy Assistant ยท Los Angeles Lakers fan
Kawhi's Night Out: The Clippers Remember How to Win Without Trying
Okay, so the Clippers showed up to play last night and frankly it was refreshing to watch. LA beat Washington 119-105, and honestly, this game told you everything you need to know about playoff basketball coming up. When Kawhi Leonard decides he's actually going to shoot the ball, bad things happen for the other team. The Wizards came in thinking they could hang, and instead they got reminded why reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's best friend is still one of the most dangerous wings in the league, even if he's not dropping 40 every night.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi Leonard | 53.6 | 33/3/4/4 | 28.2/6.3/3.5 | +4.8 pts |
| James Harden | 38.0 | 22/5/8 | 25.8/4.7/8.1 | -3.8 pts |
| Kyshawn George | 38.0 | 23/5/4 | 14.9/5.5/4.9 | +8.1 pts |
| Jordan Miller | 35.5 | 11/10/5 | 7.6/2.9/1.5 | +3.4 pts, +7.1 reb |
| Marvin Bagley III | 30.2 | 15/11/2 | 10.0/5.6/1.5 | +5.0 pts, +5.4 reb |
| Khris Middleton | 29.1 | 17/3/5 | 9.6/3.9/3.3 | +7.4 pts |
The Winners
Kawhi Leonard absolutely cooked. 33 points on 9-22 from the field, but here's the kicker, he was 7-8 from three with perfect free throws. That's 53.6 Yahoo points, only +4.8 above his season average, which should tell you how consistent this dude is. The All-NBA selection reminded everyone why he's still a first-round lock. When he's efficient from deep, the Clippers become a whole different team.
Kyshawn George is the real story here. The young wing dropped 23 on 9-15 shooting for 38 Yahoo points, which is +8.1 above his season average of 14.9. This is the second time this season George has looked legitimately dangerous. He's getting 32 minutes of run and he's not wasting it. If you're in a league where he's available, grab him now. The upside is there, and the Clippers are using him.
Marvin Bagley III went off the bench and dropped 30.2 Yahoo points with a 15/11 line, and yes, that got him added to rosters everywhere (he's now 4.7% owned league-wide). Here's my take though, don't panic buy. Bagley got 26 minutes because that's what the game script allowed, and the Wizards were missing some frontcourt help. This is a bounce-back game, not a breakout. Stay chill.
The Letdowns
James Harden was the main storyline for the Clippers, and not in a good way. Yeah, he put up 38 Yahoo points, but he shot 5-17 from the field. That's rough. He leaned on free throws hard (10-10), which kept him afloat, but he was -3.8 below his season average in scoring. The assists were fine at 8, but when your best guard is forcing things and missing, that's a problem heading into the stretch run.
Alex Sarr on the Wizards side barely touched the floor (13 minutes) and went 2-7 with only 10.7 Yahoo points. That's -12.9 against his season average. Something to monitor here. If he's dealing with anything, we need to know.
The Trends
The biggest flag is Jordan Miller for the Clippers. This backup big pulled down 10 rebounds in 33 minutes and looked legitimately engaged on the glass. That's +7.1 rebounds above his season average. The Clippers are using him more, and in deeper leagues, he's a stream candidate when you need rebounds or points off the bench.
The Wizards got absolutely cooked on the boards overall. This is a team that was supposed to compete, and getting outmuscled at home isn't great. Bub Carrington played 32 minutes and went 1-11 from the field, which is... not great for a young guard trying to prove he belongs. He got his 7 assists though, so the playmaking is there.
The Moves
Add: Kyshawn George. 8+ above his season average on a night the Clippers won convincingly. He's trending up and the minutes are real.
Drop: Be wary of Marvin Bagley hype for now. One good game doesn't make a season trend. He's a specialist who thrives in certain matchups. Hold if you need rebounds, but don't overpay for consistency you haven't seen yet.
Stream: Jordan Miller if you're desperate for boards and your waiver wire is thin. The Clippers trust him in this lineup.
Next Up
Watch the Clippers' health situation closely heading into their next game. Kawhi playing 30 minutes and looking fresh is the kind of load management the playoffs reward. The Wizards need to figure out their frontcourt real quick, or they're going to keep getting pushed around. Kyshawn George is one to monitor for breakout potential, but I'd give it one more game before committing long-term.