Kawhi Leonard Returns, Clippers Beat Lakers, Luka Doncic 32

Kawhi Leonard returned from a knee injury Thursday and led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-104 win, scoring 24 points with five rebounds and four assists while on a minutes limit. The outing extended his streak to 23 straight games of 20 or more points, the longest of his career, and reinforced his strong season scoring 28.2 points and 6.3 rebounds even as the Clippers sit 20-24 and 10th in the West. Merlin sees the ripple effect: Kawhi’s efficient return and careful minutes management could be the spark Los Angeles needs, but one star cannot fix roster holes alone. If teammates lift their play and health holds, the Clippers can climb the standings; if not, this win will feel like a warm breeze rather than a turning tide.