Los Angeles Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard got drenched with water in the locker room after he scored a career-high 55 points in Sunday’s 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Kawhi Leonard Celebrates With Clippers
Leonard, 34, was doused with water after entering the Clippers’ locker room. The six-time All-Star’s 50-burger propelled L.A. to a season-best four-game winning streak.
However, Leonard wasn’t thrilled about his hair being ruined.
“I’m sending all y’all an invoice,” he told his teammates. “Y’all gotta get my hair braided again.”
The greatest locker room video you’ll ever watch… 👇 pic.twitter.com/f9BBhszJ0y
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 29, 2025
Teammate James Harden was heard shouting “double nickels” in the locker room before Leonard walked in.
“It was a beautiful thing to see how efficient, how effortless it was,” said Harden, who had 28 points and seven assists. “It was just so smooth. He got to whatever spot he wanted to and once you get to that spot it’s not even about the defender.
“It’s about him making the shot. “Overly happy for him because behind the scenes you watch somebody and how hard they work. … For him, what he had to battle through just to go out there and be himself was a beautiful thing to see.”
James Harden, Leonard Share Record
Head coach Tyronn Lue told Leonard he was approaching the Clippers’ scoring record, but the two-time Finals MVP limited his fourth-quarter playing time to six minutes and exited with just under a minute remaining.
Leonard now shares the franchise single-game record for points with Harden.
“Like I told [Lue], I would rather play another game than go out there and risk it,” Leonard said. “Hopefully, we can get another win and be in the same situation. It is what it is.”
Leonard scored 55 points on 17-of-26 (65.4%) shooting from the field, 5-for-10 (50%) from 3-point territory, and 16-of-17 (94.1%) from the free throw line in 39 minutes.
Leonard’s Historic Free Throw Streak Ended
Although Leonard scored 26 points in the third quarter alone Sunday, he also missed his lone free throw of the game in the period. Not only was it the point he needed to set the franchise scoring record, but the miss ended his franchise-record run at 64 consecutive made free throws.
With a 41-point game Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, Leonard also became the second player in Clippers history to score at least 40 points in back-to-back home games along with Bob McAdoo.
“I’ve never really kind of been in this situation,” said Leonard. “I’m more trying to get guys the ball and sharing it more than what I have been doing. But the coaches need me to be aggressive the entire game.
“It’s just a different evolution of me trying to shoot more 3s and trying to evolve my game to today’s game.”
Leonard sat out 10 games earlier this season because of ankle and foot injuries.
Through 21 appearances (all starts) this campaign, Leonard is averaging a career-high 27.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 33.9 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of 49.5/37.5/97.6.
