Title: Defeat! The Hawks' Five Tigers Score 77+23, Harden with 10+15, Leonard's Debut Surprise, Western Conference Landscape Changes
Content:
On January 5, 2025, Beijing time, the Clippers with a record of 19 wins and 15 losses faced the Hawks with 18 wins and 17 losses at home. The Clippers' top star, Leonard, made his season debut after returning from injury. How would he perform? The Hawks were playing back-to-back games, having lost to the Lakers the previous day and suffering their second consecutive defeat. They were eager for a strong comeback, but could they win against the Clippers with Leonard? The Clippers' starting lineup was Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, and Zubac, while the Hawks were without Johnson, starting with Young, Daniels, Krajicek, Risa, and Capela.
In the first quarter, Powell scored with a hook shot, Young made a layup, and Risa hit a three-pointer, giving the Hawks a 5-2 lead. Leonard responded with a three-pointer, and Daniels made a layup, leaving the Hawks ahead by 2 points. Zubac, Powell, and Dunn then took over, giving the Clippers a 3-point lead. Capela, Young, and Krajicek scored for the Hawks, but Jones, Powell, Batum, Harden, and Coffey went on a 16-0 run, extending the Clippers' lead to 15 points. Matthews and Young hit back-to-back threes, and Risa dunked, reducing the gap to 1 point. The first quarter ended with the Clippers leading 29-28.
In the second quarter, Coffey and Powell scored 5 points in a row, extending the Clippers' lead to 6 points. Matthews and Rody closed the gap to 2 points, but Porter, Powell, Zubac, and Coffey widened it to 11 points. Risa and Young scored for the Hawks, but Porter, Leonard, Coffey, Powell, and Zubac responded strongly, bringing the lead to 24 points. Hunter and Young hit threes, but Powell, Zubac, Leonard, and Jones responded, maintaining a 27-point lead. Hunter and Daniels scored 7 points in a row, and the half ended with the Clippers leading 74-54.
In the third quarter, Leonard made 1 of 3 free throws, keeping the Clippers' lead at 21 points. Capela and Young reduced the gap to 16 points, but Harden, Zubac, and Leonard scored, and Daniels and Young tried to close the gap, leaving it at 15 points. Harden then scored 5 points in a row, extending the lead to 20 points. Daniels and Risa scored for the Hawks, but Zubac and Mann responded, keeping the lead at 24 points. Okongwu, Young, and Hunter reduced the gap to 18 points, but Mann and Batum dunked, ending the third quarter with the Clippers leading 98-76.
In the fourth quarter, Hunter hit a three-pointer, keeping the lead at 19 points. Mann also hit a three, and Hunter and Okongwu scored, reducing the gap to 18 points. Coffey, Mann, and Zubac extended the lead to 24 points. Hunter and Rody scored, but Zubac and Mann responded, keeping the lead at 24 points. Daniels, Rody, and Krajicek scored for the Hawks, but Porter dunked and Powell hit a three, reducing the gap to 22 points with over 5 minutes left. The Clippers then withdrew their starters, ultimately winning 131-105. In this game, the Clippers' bench performed exceptionally well, scoring 69 points, setting a new team record for the season.
Leonard played only 19 minutes, shooting 4 for 11 (3 for 5 from three-point range) for 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, with a plus-minus of +22. His season debut was a pleasant surprise. Harden scored 10 points, 2 rebounds, 15 assists, and 2 steals on 3 for 9 shooting. Powell scored 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals on 8 for 16 shooting. Zubac scored 18 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists on 9 for 11 shooting. Coffey scored 17 points and 4 rebounds. Porter scored 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jones scored 12 points and 3 rebounds. Mann scored 12 points and 3 rebounds.
Young scored 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 14 assists on 7 for 16 shooting. Hunter scored 18 points and 3 rebounds. Matthews scored 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Risa scored 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Daniels scored 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.
After the victory, the Clippers remained seventh in the West but tied with the sixth-place Mavericks in terms of record. With Leonard's return, the Clippers' offensive and defensive capabilities have been greatly enhanced, giving them the potential to climb the rankings and change the landscape of the Western Conference.