Kawhi Leonard 45 points vs Timberwolves (Mar 11, 2026): 2nd-best of 51 games
45 PTS · 15-of-20 FG · 6-of-9 3P · 9-of-10 FT · 31:30 MIN
Usual before this game: 27.9 PTS · 19.5 FGA · 32.5 MIN, from 50 regular-season games
2nd-best Game Score of 51 games this season: 43.0 against a usual 22.6 (+20.4)
above usual
No more than 2 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about once or twice a season.
How the score worksWhy did Kawhi Leonard score 45 points?
Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points against the Timberwolves on Mar 11, 2026 in 31:30: 15-of-20 from the field (75.0%), 6-of-9 from three (66.7%), 9-of-10 on free throws (90.0%). Coming in, Leonard had averaged 27.9 points on 19.5 shots in 32.5 minutes, from 50 regular-season games. This game had the 2nd-best Game Score of 51 games this season. The rate from the field was 75.0%, against a usual 49.8%. By shot type: threes 18 points (usual 7.6); two-pointers 18 points (usual 14.3); free throws 9 points (usual 6.0). Playing time was 31:30, against a usual 32.5 minutes; per 36 minutes, the Game Score was 49.1, against a usual 25.1. At home against the Timberwolves, the Clippers won 153-128, a 25-point win. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Leonard in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (50 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 31:30 | 32.5 | -1.0 |
| Points | 45 | 27.9 | +17.1 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 20 · 75.0% | 19.5 · 49.8% | +0.5 · +25.2 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 9 · 66.7% | 6.8 · 37.2% | +2.2 · +29.5 |
| FTA · FT% | 10 · 90.0% | 6.6 · 90.6% | +3.4 · -0.6 |
| Rebounds | 5 | 6.4 | -1.4 |
| Assists | 5 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2.1 | -1.1 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 50 games | 35.9 | 33.9 | +2.0 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 49.1 | 25.1 | +24.0 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (50 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 18 (6-of-9) | 7.6 (2.5-of-6.8) | +10.4 |
| Twos | 18 (9-of-11) | 14.3 (7.2-of-12.7) | +3.7 |
| Free throws | 9 (9-of-10) | 6.0 (6.0-of-6.6) | +3.0 |
| Total | 45 | 27.9 | +17.1 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
43.0 against a usual 22.6 (+20.4)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +18.7 |
| Rebounds | -0.5 |
| Assists | +0.9 |
| Steals and blocks | -0.3 |
| Turnovers and fouls | +1.6 |
| Total | +20.4 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
2nd-best Game Score of 51 games this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Clippers won 153-128 at home against the Timberwolves, a 25-point win.
- Previous appearance: Mar 9, 2026, 2 days earlier.
- Earlier regular-season meetings with the Timberwolves this season: 20 points (Dec 6, 2025), 41 points (Feb 8, 2026).
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.