Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell will remind Toronto Raptors fans of their team’s glory days when the Los Angeles Clippers visit on Sunday afternoon. Leonard and Powell were pivotal in the Raptors’ only NBA championship win in 2019.
The Clippers head to Toronto aiming for a third consecutive victory, after securing a 112-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. This game will conclude their four-game road trip, where they have achieved a 2-1 record so far.
Powell led the scoring against the Hornets with 27 points, while Leonard added 21 points. This marks Leonard’s 10th game since his return from knee surgery.
Leonard played a crucial role during the Raptors’ championship season, his only stint with Toronto before becoming a free agent and signing with the Clippers. He was awarded his second Bill Russell Trophy as the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors.
Powell also played a significant part in the Raptors’ title run. Acquired in a draft-day trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015, Powell was later traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021. Currently, Powell leads the Clippers in scoring with an average of 24.1 points per game, although he was not selected for the All-Star Game. Despite this disappointment, Powell remains focused on the team’s push towards the postseason.
The Raptors, who have improved as a team since their narrow 105-103 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles on November 9, recently had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 122-106 defeat to the Chicago Bulls in the opener of a four-game homestand. The Clippers have won eight of their last 11 games.
Toronto welcomed Immanuel Quickley back to the lineup after his latest injury—a nagging groin issue. Quickley, limited to just 10 games this season, scored 13 of his 14 points in the first half and played 15 minutes and 27 seconds as he is gradually reintroduced to the competition. He looked sharp, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The Raptors trailed 55-50 at halftime but were outscored 33-24 in the third quarter as their energy waned.
With Leonard and Powell returning to face their former team, this matchup promises to be an emotional and exciting game for Raptors fans.
