Kawhi turns page on Raptors tenure: 'It's over now'
Kawhi Leonard spoke glowingly about his lone season with the Toronto Raptors ahead of Monday's showdown, but the Los Angeles Clippers superstar insists he has now turned the page.
"It's over now," Leonard said after the Clippers' 98-88 victory, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "We won. Like I said before, I had a great time there. But it's the next chapter now.
"I can't live in the past or just be so excited that I still won (a championship). I'm with a different team and a different unit, and they want to have that same feeling, and I do as well. I'm a Clipper right now."
Leonard struggled in his first meeting against his former club, posting 12 points on 2-of-11 shooting while committing a career-high nine turnovers.
The Raptors repeatedly trapped Leonard, forcing the reigning Finals MVP to give up the rock. The All-Star forward has evolved as a playmaker and finished with nine assists - one off his career high set earlier this season. He embraced Toronto's defensive challenge, knowing it'll benefit him and his teammates in the long run.
"They (made) me better tonight," Leonard said. "As soon as I walked across half court, they were trying to get the ball out of my hands, sending an extra defender. It's going to (make) my teammates better. (Opponents are) going to do it at times in the playoffs and regular season, and they are going to knock down the open shot. That's what wins games: open shots.
"We came out with the win, and they did a great job on me tonight. ... But I'm glad they did. It (made) me better, and it's going to (make) my teammates better as well."
Both the Raptors and Clippers hold identical 7-3 records after Monday's matchup.