Kawhi Leonard On Last Play Against James Harden: “I Felt That I Got Grabbed Early”
The Brooklyn Nets wrapped up Sunday’s game with a victory, but the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t go down without a fight, climbing their way back from a 15-point deficit.
Kawhi Leonard had 29 points which includes a pair of free throws to tie the game at 108 a piece with 28.6 seconds left in the fourth. In the final 11 seconds where the Clippers were down by two points however, Leonard got called for an offensive foul on James Harden which eventually erased their chance of sending the game to overtime and scoring a win.
Kawhi gets called for the offensive foul. Nets win. pic.twitter.com/droTZRrtGW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 22, 2021
The play suggests different perspectives from a fan standpoint. While some fans believe that it was the right call, others are claiming that Harden rested his arm on Leonard first then ended up flopping as Leonard waived it off.
After falling to the Nets to a score of 108-112, the Clippers superstar touched on the controversial play and shared his side of the story in their postgame interview.
“My take from it is if we’re going to pretty much play bully ball at the end of the game, you know, let both sides play it,” Leonard said after the game. “But they didn’t call it, so good defense. I felt that I got grabbed early, but like I said, no call, so great defense.”
Kawhi Leonard took one question tonight: mine about the offensive foul. Here's what he said:
“My take from it is we’re gonna play bully ball at the end of the game, let it go both ways. But they didn’t call it, so good defense.”
He then said, 'Alright,' got up, and left. pic.twitter.com/1aBymwNvDW
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 22, 2021