On January 7th, Beijing time, the team leader suddenly left the court after being beaten 17:0, giving all his teammates a heavy blow. Leonard's decision to quit the game was a shock to everyone, leaving Harden with no choice but to shrug in disbelief, and it's no wonder they suffered a triple defeat.
The Clippers vs. Timberwolves game truly showcased the intensity of a playoff match. The Los Angeles Clippers had a lead of up to 19 points, but were dramatically reversed by the Timberwolves in the third quarter. The most critical moment came when, facing a 29-point comeback, Leonard dealt a severe blow to his teammates by announcing his withdrawal from the game!
At that point, the Clippers had just experienced a stunning 29-point comeback. Initially leading by 19 points, they were not only caught up but also surpassed by 10 points. In this crucial moment, what the team needed most was for their leader to step up. However, the camera then shifted to the sidelines, capturing Leonard's decision to exit the game. It showed that the Clippers' leader, who had just been hit with a 17:0 run, was substituted off the court. Witnessing Leonard's actions, the team's morale must have taken a massive hit. They were playing well until he decided to leave the court—how could anyone handle that?
During his 21 minutes on the court, Leonard had an 11-for-3 shooting record, scoring 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. However, his on-court plus-minus value was -17, ranking him last among the entire team. With his departure for rest at such a critical juncture, even Harden appeared helpless, his eyes filled with bewilderment. When he was on the court, he at least served as a distraction and played good defense; now that he's gone, there's no one to draw the opponent's attention.
Of course, Leonard has recently been mostly lurking in the corner, not fully engaging in the game. It can only be said that Leonard is indeed rusty; in the past, he wouldn't have made such a decision. But now, he seems worn out, unable to score even when the Clippers were hit with a 17:0 run. He missed a half-open layup and a corner three-pointer. He finally scored one, only to have it nullified due to an offensive foul called on Harden—who could he reason with?
The key point is that having a core player leave the court at such a time significantly affects the other teammates on the Clippers. When they desperately needed points and were trying to catch up, with only 7 minutes and 15 seconds left, Leonard left without a word, and the gap widened to double digits immediately after his departure. Just looking at the Clippers' bench, one can imagine the thoughts going through their minds. Physically, Leonard also appears stiff, lacking even half the strength of his peak performance—when will he recover?
As expected, Edwards' two crucial three-pointers ultimately shattered the Clippers' hopes. At this moment, everyone probably misses the person who could defend against Edwards, but the modern Jordan, sitting on the bench, could only watch as the contemporary Jordan on the court displayed his prowess.