Kawhi Leonard: Top 5 Performances By The Klaw As A Spur

#3 Kawhi Leonard tops James Harden in an epic MVP battle

Kawhi Leonard blocks James Harden's game-winning layup

This performance can easily be recalled as the game where Kawhi Leonard made his case for 2016-17 season MVP as the Spurs hosted then award-frontrunner James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

Not only did Leonard score 25 of his 39 points in the second half to help erase a 16-point deficit but he also had the two biggest plays at the end of the game to put the Spurs up for good.

Trailing by two with 25 seconds remaining, Leonard nailed a 25-foot 3-pointer to give the Spurs a two-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Harden drove the lane looking for the game-winner but Leonard blocked him from behind and knocked down two free throws to help seal a 112-110 win.

Leonard finished with 39 points, matching Harden’s point total, plus six rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks. He shot 12-for-18, 4-for-5 from deep and 11-for-11 from the line. He played 39 minutes and committed just a single turnover. This is close to a perfect game.

Popovich’s postgame comments summed up the kind of night Leonard had as he praised the Spurs forward by saying that many players shoot threes, but not many players work every single night on the defensive end of the floor like Kawhi does.