Kawhi Leonard used the San Antonio Spurs' season opener to do two things: make Kevin Durant's triumphant return from an injury-plagued season as painful as possible and announce to the world that his growth into a legitimate two-way superstar would continue uninterrupted.
Yet, it wasn't enough.
Durant's Thunder prevailed in a 112-106 win that felt like it should have been played in late May instead of October. The talent on the floor was absurd, as LaMarcus Aldridge and David West bolstered San Antonio's depth, while the fully healthy trio of Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka led the charge in response.
How much talent, exactly? Well, Enes Kanter, a max player in reserve, came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 16 boards.
Westbrook led all scorers with 33, handing out 10 assists as well. He picked up right where he left off last year in the ferocity department.
But it was Leonard who impressed most.
The Spurs small forward handled the ball often, and he looked for his shot aggressively. His career-high 32 points (including 13 in the fourth quarter) came on 22 ...
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Article written by Grant Hughes
Wednesday NBA Roundup: Kawhi Leonard’s Night Nearly Spoils Kevin Durant’s Return
October 28th, 2015 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
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