With one game left in the regular season, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors will battle on Sunday afternoon in San Francisco with playoff seeding — and play-in fates — hanging in the balance.
Kawhi Leonard, who did not play in any of the first three meetings between the teams, will take the floor Sunday for one of the Clippers’ most consequential games of the season.
Here is the featured Leonard prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook for Sunday’s matchup against the Warriors:
Best Kawhi Leonard Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Kawhi Leonard over 22.5 Points (-125)
Leonard is averaging 24.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 21 games since the All-Star break and enters the matchup coming off a stretch of efficient scoring efforts. He’ll be counted on to lead the Clippers in a must-win regular-season finale.
Leonard has cleared this line often lately and now faces a Warriors team he hasn’t faced this season. While James Harden and Norman Powell have been productive in the earlier matchups, with Powell averaging 23.3 points across three wins, Leonard’s return brings a new layer of offensive creation to the Clippers’ attack.
Golden State will be without much rest, returning home after Friday’s win in Portland. While the Warriors may have Stephen Curry available after a thumb injury scare, Leonard and the Clippers should benefit from fresher legs and a top-10 pace offense that can exploit the Warriors’ transition defense.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue underscored the importance of reaching the 50-win mark to avoid the play-in, so expect a heavy dose of Leonard early and often.
“Win 49 games and if you don’t win Sunday, you got a chance to be seventh,” Lue said. “It is what it is. But you didn’t ever think you’d win 49 games and still could be in the play-in.”
In what amounts to a playoff tune-up, Leonard is well-positioned to produce another high-volume scoring performance in the Clippers’ highest-stakes game yet this season.
