The Los Angeles Clippers are aiming for a top-six playoff spot in the Western Conference this season. Currently, the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies hold the top three positions, while the battle for fourth, fifth, and sixth spots is particularly fierce. Leonard's return aims to bring the Clippers to the top four alongside Harden. Although Leonard has played several games since his return, he has yet to find his offensive rhythm, though his defense remains solid; he is still under time restrictions. The Clippers' trio exploded with a combined 77 points, 33 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading to a big win. Harden scored 26 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 9-of-17 shooting.
Zubac, the Clippers' center, went 10-of-13, scoring 21 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks, dominating the Heat's interior. Zubac's pick-and-roll with Harden repeatedly broke through the Heat's defense, which struggled to contain the trio's offensive coordination. According to NBA data experts, Zubac's performance of 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 2 blocks with zero fouls and over 60% shooting rate matches that of Spurs superstar Duncan (the last player to achieve such stats in the NBA).
This season, Zubac averages 15.1 points, 12.7 rebounds (third in the league), 2.5 assists, and 1.3 blocks, with a 62% shooting rate (fifth in the league). His scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks have all reached career highs, earning him the nickname "Cake King" among fans. With Harden's assists, Zubac has become the Clippers' most important pillar in the paint.
Harden averages 21.5 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.4 steals this season. He has scored a total of 26,660 points in his NBA career, just 9 points shy of surpassing Wilkins for 15th place in history. Harden has twice scored over 20 points in a quarter, over 30 in a half, and over 40 in three quarters, ranking first in the league. Since Leonard's return, Harden has focused more on passing and assisting, while Zubac and Powell have been scoring at an impressive rate with Harden's help, as Leonard continues to search for his shooting touch.
Reportedly, Leonard has been under playing time restrictions since his return, with a shooting record of 10-of-31, though his defense has been good. He needs to gradually regain his best shooting form. Coach Tyronn Lue expects Leonard to be unrestricted by February. Harden commented that Leonard is working hard to recover and looks great, emphasizing the need for patience.
