Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers suffered a significant setback, falling 129-107 to the OKC Thunder on Thursday and losing the season series 2-1, potentially sacrificing a crucial tiebreaker in the process. Despite this loss, Leonard remains unfazed.
With a current record of 36-18, the Clippers are trailing the Thunder by just 1.5 games (38-17) in the Western Conference standings and are within 2.5 games of the first-placed Minnesota Timberwolves (39-16). However, Leonard emphasized that securing the top seed and home court advantage isn’t their primary focus.
“Our priority is ensuring a top-six seed and steering clear of the play-in tournament,” Leonard stated. “Regardless of our seeding, our aim remains consistent: continuous improvement.”
Given the Clippers’ history of grappling with significant injuries since Leonard and Paul George joined the team in 2019, prioritizing their health ahead of the 2024 playoffs is paramount.
While the Clippers secured top-four seeds and home court advantage in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, they fell short of reaching the NBA Finals both times. Therefore, entering this year’s playoffs with a fully healthy roster could provide their best opportunity for championship contention, irrespective of their seeding.
