Leonard Returns from Injury, Scores 24 Points, Embraces 3-Point Shooting

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard returned from a three-game absence due to a bruised left knee, scoring 24 points in a 112-104 win over the Lakers. This marked his 23rd consecutive game with 20+ points. Playing 25 minutes, he shot 9-for-19 (3-of-7 from deep). Leonard, averaging a career-high 28.9 points, has recently committed to increasing his 3-point attempts, now shooting 40% from long-range, a strategic shift that has contributed to the Clippers' 14 wins in their last 17 games.