Kawhi Leonard is among the top five in single-game playoff performances for the Clippers.
Check out the Clippers’ top 5 single-game scoring performances from their 19 playoff runs.
Bob McAdoo – 50 points (1975 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4)
McAdoo’s 50-point outburst came when the Clippers were the Buffalo Braves. Despite that passage of time, his incredible performance still ranks atop the franchise’s all-time leaderboard for points in a playoff game. McAdoo scored 50 of his team’s 108 points in the Game 4 win over Washington to knot the series at two games apiece. Washington went on to win the series, and advanced to the NBA Finals that year.
Kawhi Leonard – 45 points (2021 Western Conference First Round, Game 6)
Leonard was unstoppable in LA’s must-win matchup against the Mavericks in Game 6 of their 2021 first-round series. He shot 72% from the floor and 56% from deep en route to helping the Clippers force a Game 7. The Clippers ended up beating the Mavericks and then the Jazz to make it to the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the Suns in six games.
Bob McAdoo – 44 points (1974 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4)
Another throwback to the franchise’s days in Buffalo, McAdoo also had an unbelievable performance against the Celtics in the 1974 Eastern Conference semifinals. McAdoo dominated the scoring for the Braves with 44 of the team’s 104 points in the narrow victory while no other Buffalo player reached the 20-point mark. McAdoo also pulled down 16 rebounds as the Braves edged out the Celtics 104-102. However, the Celtics would go on to win the series in six games.
Norman Powell – 42 points (2023 Western Conference First Round, Game 3)
Powell erupted for easily the best performance of his playoff career in Game 3 of the Clippers’ 2023 first-round matchup against the Suns. He connected on seven of 12 triples and finished the game shooting 65% from the floor overall. Powell’s amazing night wasn’t quite enough to overcome a monster game from Devin Booker, who scored 45 points. The Clippers fell to the Suns in five games that year.
Paul George – 41 points (2021 Western Conference Finals, Game 5)
Playoff P was out in full force to help the Clippers stave off elimination in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. George stepped up and led the Clippers in scoring with one of the best individual performances in franchise history. He shot 50% from 3-point range and 75% from the floor overall while also converting all eight of his free throw attempts. It was one of the most efficient outings in NBA postseason history. Only 12 players have scored at least 40 points in a playoff game while shooting at least 75% from the floor. The Clippers ultimately fell to the Suns in Game 6 that year.
