‘It was great’: LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard makes long-awaited return from injury in preseason win over Portland Trail Blazers

After waiting 476 days to return to NBA action, Kawhi Leonard needed only 15 seconds to launch and drill a 3-pointer again.

In his first match in 15-plus months, Leonard began his return to the court by hitting his first shot from behind the arc before finishing with 11 points and four rebounds in the Clippers’ 102-97 preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Monday night

“It was great,” Leonard said of playing again for the first time since tearing his right ACL in Game 4 of the Clippers’ second-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on June 14, 2021. “Just being able to put all that hard work that I did throughout the, 14, 16 months, just able to put it to test and playing against NBA talent, it was good.

“Just being out there with the guys and talking, I missed it. It was a great experience for me.”

Leonard played only 16 minutes, all in the first half, as Clippers coach Ty Lue opted to only play his starters one half. That same script also applied to point guard John Wall, who made his own return from a year off and had five points and three assists off the bench.

Looking for the best online betting site and Live betting? Visit Heritage Sports!

The Clippers played their second consecutive game in Seattle after beating Israel’s Maccabi Ra’Anana on Friday.

But this one felt like more than a normal preseason contest because of Leonard’s return and Wall’s debut — plus the Seattle-flavored crowd.

With the NBA back in town, Seattle basketball came out in full force with Lenny Wilkens, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Jamal Crawford and Sam Perkins among those in attendance as fans chanted “Sonics” several times.

For the Clippers, seeing Leonard — who also had two assists and a pair of steals — back on the floor again was something they’ve waited over a year for.

“It was funny because PG [Paul George] asked me if I had the bubbles before the game, like [in] the stomach,” Leonard said. “I am like, nah. There might be a little [chicken] wing in there floating around. [But] I felt the same way as if I approached any other game today.”

Leonard, who said he “definitely got a lot stronger” after 13-plus months in the gym, used his muscle in the paint over smaller defenders to draw trips to the free throw line. He didn’t shoot with the same Leonard efficiency, making 3-for-8 from the field, but his timing will come.

The most important thing was Leonard returning and coming out of the match healthy.

“The body feels good,” Leonard said. “Obviously, I am not going to be playing 35 minutes, 38 minutes to start, so it is going to be a little shaky early, probably. But like I said, it is a journey, it’s a process, and that is what I am about.”

Get all the latest Live Betting and Sport News updates on your social media outlets. Find us on both  Facebook and Twitter