Clippers rally to beat Pistons in Kawhi Leonard’s return

LOS ANGELES — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue struggled to contain his giddiness and did a poor job trying not to smile. He pressed his lips together and uttered an “Mm-hmm” when asked if his star player was available to play, concealing his excitement.

Lue’s excitement was understandable. Seeing Kwahi Leonard take the floor isn’t something the Clippers have been able to rely on this season. He had not played since experiencing stiffness in his knee Oct. 25, missing the past 12 games since coming off the bench in two of the first three games to begin the season.

But there he was, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his teammates as the starting lineups were announced for Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, and the Crypto.com Arena crowd was ready. Leonard was back in uniform, and the fans gave him a resounding welcome back.

Leonard, though, had an inauspicious start to his first game since Oct. 25. He dished off his first touch to Paul George then missed his first shot. He was fouled on his second attempt and missed both free throws. Leonard’s first basket came on a baseline fadeaway, playing just 12 minutes in the first half.

He played another 12 minutes after halftime and finished with six points on 2-of-8 shooting, five rebounds and four assists. He watched from the bench as the Clippers rallied late in the second half to close out the Pistons, 96-91.

The Clippers have won all three games Leonard has played. But this one took some work.

The Clippers found themselves having to hold off the scrappy Pistons (3-13), who had three players score in double figures. Reggie Jackson’s free throws with 16.8 seconds finally assured the Clippers of the victory.

Leonard wasn’t the only one who had a rough time in the early going. George continued his opening quarter struggles, going 0 for 6 before scoring six points by halftime and only Jackson had reached double figures with 16 as the Clippers trailed 50-42 at intermission.

The Pistons (3-13) didn’t seem to care who was on the floor. They ran off to a 12-point lead in the first half before George buried a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 30 late in the half.

The Pistons didn’t back down after halftime. They kept finding ways to score, namely putting the ball into the hands of Bodan Bogdanovic (26) and Jaden Ivey (18) and held onto the lead until Terance Mann’s three-point play put the Clippers ahead 66-65 with 1:06 left in the third. It was just the spark the Clippers needed.

While the second unit kept the game close, the starters broke it open. With Detroit leading 73-70, Lue sent the starting five back onto the floor with 9:45 left to play and the move paid off. The Clippers regained the lead when Marcus Morris Sr. scored a layup and kept going.

They outscored the Pistons 15-6 to take an 85-79 lead with 4:55 remaining. George contributed two big baskets during the run – a long 3-pointer and a dunk off a steal. The Clippers (9-7) didn’t trail after that.

George and Marcus Morris had 16 points each and Ivica Zubac tied his career high with 18 rebounds to complete the comeback.

In the two games Leonard had played, he came off the bench in the second half with the thinking that he would be fresh for the end of the game. Lue said he has veered away from that thinking because he often wouldn’t remember to put Leonard back in the game.

“That was too nasty,” Lue said. “I didn’t like it. I mean, you got the best player, and you look down and sometimes the game is going for so long, you forget.”

Pistons coach Dwyane Casey, whose team lost its fifth in a row playing without injured Cade Cunningham, said he found out they would be facing Leonard the same way most of the NBA did – when the Clippers changed Leonard’s status from out to questionable.

As much as the Pistons might have enjoyed seeing Leonard come back after they left town, Casey said it’s good to have the five-time All-Star back on the floor.

“He’s one of the best players in the league and it’s just unfortunate he has had the injuries he’s had,” Casey said. “Because the NBA needs him.”

Turn. Fade. Cash! 🖐

Kawhi getting buckets out the post in his return to action on the NBA App

📲 https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK pic.twitter.com/4CbN4Rkusk

— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2022

Reggie Jackson pokes it away, and PG races down the floor for the SLAM

The @LAClippers are rolling in Q4 on the NBA App

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— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2022

Victory Dance 🕺@Reggie_Jackson x @ChuckTheCondor pic.twitter.com/9EYCEbvTLn

— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2022