Kawhi Leonard presented a major problem with the Denver Nuggets.
Fighting to regain the NBA Championship, the Denver Nuggets faced a major obstacle in the first round of this 2025 NBA playoffs due to the Raclippers’ superstar glow.
After missing the first part of the 2024-25 season, he was healthy and rejuvenated and rejuvenated to play, and Cowhileonard regained his hand for time, tormenting Nuggets completely, and made his co-star James Harden adore.
The two-time Final MVP dropped a vintage performance in Game 2, leading the Clippers to a 105-102 victory, dropping 39 points in a hot 1/15 shooting.
Even Hall of Fame Paul Earrings was fascinated by the “pureest form of basketball” he showed with Leonard’s elite shot making and clutch takeover.
The series is tied in one game, one game prior to games 3 and 4 set in Int’t’ Dome, which puts pressure on Nikola Jokic and the Denver team to respond.
Leonard remains locked up and ready to embrace the advantage of the home court, and while Nugget veteran DeAndre Jordan admits they have to be realistic in limiting Kawi, one young player is full of youthful optimism.
Payton Watson says he’s ready to embrace the tough mission of playing against the Clippers superstar.
“I look forward to this challenge. I think I’ve protected the two possessions he shot in the last game (Leonard).
“He hit me with a really tough shot. Another thing, I stopped,” Watson said after the Nuggets team practiced ahead of Game 3.
“I think I can definitely confuse him with my length and what he does for that.”
Watson, 22, established his case as the Nuggets ace defender.
With an incredible length and wing span at 6 feet seven frames, he is an interesting unit that allows the Nuggets to protect Leonard. During this past regular season, he led the NBA with blocks (1.4) among active guards.
With each NBA.com tracking data, Watson has kept Leonard at 3-5 shooting in a 1-1 matchup so far in this opening playoff series. He also forced the Clipper Star to commit two turnovers.
Watson defended Leonard for almost three minutes. Now it’s up to David Adelman to offer him the opportunity to play a more prominent role.
“He can provide defensive versatility that can hide other people that are offensively important to us, so we can do more from the timeout,” Adelman said.
“I thought he had some good possessions for Kawi. The shots he made with Payton were really tough shots. A lot of his shots were.”
With important Game 3 scheduled for the upcoming April 24th, the Nuggets approach to Leonard will be something to watch.