sport news Kawhi Leonard hits game winning shot for Los Angeles Clippers in his first game ... trends now

 Kawhi Leonard couldn't have drawn up a better return. Monday night marked Leonard's first game back after sitting out with a sprained ankle. He last played on November 21st against the Utah Jazz.

The five-time All-Star had 16 points, including an 18-foot jumper with 1.4 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 119-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

'I don't think anybody loves playing this game more than me,' Leonard said. 'It gives me joy when I'm able to play. And it was great that I was able to make that shot.'

Paul George also came back from a strained hamstring to score 19 points along with seven assists, helping the Clippers snap a two-game losing streak. Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum each had 13 points, and John Wall added 12 points and 12 assists.

Luke Kennard added nine points off the bench in his first game back from an injury as well.

Charlotte's Kelly Oubre scored 28 points and P.J. Washington added 26 after going 0 for 13 on Saturday night. Washington missed a fadeaway jumper as time expired that would have tied the game.

Getting Leonard, George and Kennard back should provide a huge boost for the Clippers (14-11). Leonard has been out since Nov. 21, George since Nov. 19 and Kennard since Nov. 15 with a calf strain.

George said it's 'super important' getting everyone healthy again, and that it felt like the start of a new season.

'This is really a great opportunity to kind of get back on track,' George said. 'We were playing well when we were healthy and now we can start building toward the team we were trying to be.'

The win didn't come easily.

The Hornets (7-17) outscored the Clippers 26-8 to start the third quarter behind eight points from Terry Rozier to take an 80-71 lead.

The Clippers tied it up when George saved an offensive rebound from going out of bounds by flicking the ball to Leonard under the basket for an easy basket.

'We've got to get that rebound,' Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. 'It's the second game this year, you make one play and they've got to foul, we're up two. That's the biggest play.'

After Jalen McDaniels missed a 3 at the other end, the Clippers found Leonard for an isolation play on the right side of the court.

He made a ball fake to freeze McDaniels, then dribbled once and stepped back to his left to drain the shot before exchanging a high-five with George and a flying chest bump with Marcus Morris Sr..

'My teammates trusted me,' Leonard said. 'I was able to get in my spot and my team gave me space. I was able to knock down a shot.'

ROCKETS 132, 76ERS 123, 2 OT

Jalen Green scored 27 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 24 to lead Houston over Philadelphia as James Harden struggled through his return from injury.

Harden had 21 points but shot 4 for 19 from the field in his first game since Nov. 2. Coach Doc Rivers said Harden, who spent just more than eight seasons with the Rockets before being traded to Brooklyn in January 2021, would be on a minutes restriction in his return. But Harden didn't seem to be limited much, and played 39 minutes.

He had missed 14 games with a tendon strain in his right foot. He missed all eight attempts inside the 3-point arc but still got to the line like he always does and made 9 of 10 free throws.

Joel Embiid had 39 points before fouling out late in the first overtime and Tobias Harris added 27 as the Sixers dropped their third straight.

CELTICS 116, RAPTORS 110

Jayson Tatum had 31 points and 12 rebounds, Jaylen Brown scored 22 points and Boston won for the seventh time in eight games, beating Toronto.

Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart scored 18 points for Boston after sitting out Sunday's win at

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