The Athletic NBA Daily Is this Kawhi Leonard's best season?
Mar 12, 2026
Josh Robbins, an NBA reporter and analyst covering the Orlando Magic, breaks down Orlando’s surge and playoff positioning. He discusses Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane leading the way. He weighs ideal first-round matchups, Orlando’s lineup balance without Franz Wagner, spacing concerns for the playoffs, and Jalen Suggs as a key X-factor.
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Kawhi's Scoring Surge Is Raising The Clippers
- Kawhi Leonard is playing some of the best basketball of his career, lifting the Clippers' overall play.
- His 45-point night sparked faster pace and efficiency, helping young role players like Derek Jones Jr. and Jordan Miller thrive.
Clippers Turnaround Comes From Playing Faster
- The Clippers' recent jump in net rating comes from playing faster and improving on both ends in a short span.
- Over the last five games their offense and defense rose into top-10 territory, creating a 27-point blowout over Minnesota.
Nuggets Starting Unit Finally Clicks
- Denver's starting five finally clicked, producing crisp ball movement and transition offense against Houston.
- Nikola Jokić posted a triple-double with modest scoring while Jamal Murray scored 30 and Denver dominated the third quarter 40-22.