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With Kawhi Leonard logging his first game since Nov. 21, the LA Clippers secured their 14th win of the season, topping the Charlotte Hornets 119-117 on Monday.
Paul George led all Clippers (14-11) with 19 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points and six rebounds on 7-for-15 shooting. John Wall added a 12-point, 12-assists double-double and Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris added 13 and 12 points respectively.
Despite leading going into the fourth quarter, the Charlotte Hornets (7-17) went down on a Kawhi Leonard game winner at home. Kelly Oubre Jr. led all scorers with 28 points, going 4-for-10 from 3-point range. P.J. Washington and Terry Rozier added 26 and 22 points, respectively.
On ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith sounded off on the Clippers and his doubts surrounding Leonard's availability:
"When Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy, we know that this is arguably the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals because Kawhi and Paul George are just that gifted.
"I'm just a person that has NO faith in the health of Kawhi Leonard. He's a guy that wants to be a 100% when he plays and anything less is an excuse not to be on the court.
"Hopefully, that's changed this year, because he's certainly gotten his money, but what we expected to see from him since he's arrived with the Los Angeles Clippers hasn't necessarily reached fruition.
"He is a superstar in this game in terms of when he's on the court. We know he's big time, and I just hope he stays that way every time I see him, I'm like, 'Are you going to play the next game?"
Over his three-year tenure with the LA Clippers, Leonard has missed an entire season and 55 games. Out of the 25 games that the Clippers have played this season, Leonard has missed 19.
LA Clippers keep championship hopes alive as Kawhi Leonard regains from
Despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have stayed afloat in a tightly contested Western Conference. Less than four games separates the first and 10th teams. And with the win last night, the Clippers are sixth, only half a game above the Portland Trail Blazers at seven.
Leonard's game on Monday night was one of the few upsides the Clippers have had this season, with Leonard logging a season-high 28 minutes. With a quarter of the season on the books, however, Leonard does not seem to be on pace to log even 40 games this season.
Paul George and the rest of the Clippers starters have kept the Clippers in contention. George is averaging 23.4/5.8/4.5 on 46.2/37.6/85.4 shooting splits. Norman Powell is averaging 14.8 points per game on 37.9% from 3-point range, and Ivica Zubac averaging a 10.7 points, 11.5 rebound double-double.
The Clippers play the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at 7:00 pm ET.
