The Los Angeles Clippers were low on rest as they set foot into Toronto at 3 am on game day, however the lack of rest didn’t pose a challenge. Hours later, they beat the Toronto Raptors by 11 points. The Clippers witnessed an all-round team performance with six of their players securing points in the double digits. While this was just another game for the team, for their star Kawhi Leonard it was like a homecoming. 

In Toronto, there is arguably nothing but love for Kawhi Leonard. He played with the Toronto Raptors from 2018-2019. During his tenure, the five-time All-Star was instrumental in bagging the franchise’s first NBA championship. Leonard also won the Finals MVP award. When his name was announced, the arena cheered and welcomed their star back home. Much to the surprise of many, Leonard was playing the game, but this news left fans on Twitter enraged. 

A Kawhi Leonard update leaves NBA Twitter in a muddle

The two-time NBA champion missed out on games recently due to an injury. As he conditions himself to life post-injury, Leonard hasn’t been playing in back-to-back games. However, on Tuesday night, it was different. Leonard spoke to the media and said, “I’d rather give the fans in Toronto the chance to see me play again. That was part of my decision.”

“KaWheelChair Is Cooked”: Latest Update on 2x NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard Leaves Fans in Shambles

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Fans were quick to react to this confession. For starters, they took a jab at his injury-prone body and indicated that his knees would probably give way during the game. For many, it seemed as though Leonard confessed to choosing when to play and when not to. Following this, many were upset that he was being praised for doing his job. They found this to be wild and shocking. They highlighted his past of missing several games. 

Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:

The game between the LA Clippers and the Toronto Raptors

While the online world was in havoc, Kawhi Leonard put up a show for the ones who love him. In the 35 minutes he spent on the hardwood, the two-time Finals MVP bagged 15 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. 

Apart from Leonard, Clippers’ star Paul George and Ivica Zubac registered 23 points each while Reggie Jackson made 20 points. For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam’s 36 points and Scottie Barnes’ 17 proved to be powerless against a locked-in Clippers lineup. 

The Clippers have now won seven out of their last nine games. Despite these victories, Coach Ty Lue found the win against the Raptors to be the most satisfying one. As per ESPN’s game report, he said, “This was one of our most complete games of the season”. Now, the focus will likely be to try and capitalize on this momentum against the Boston Celtics. 

Watch This Story – The uncanny resemblance between Michael Jordan and Kawhi Leonard plays

What do you think about Kawhi Leonard’s decision to play? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.