WATCH: Kawhi Leonard’s heart-finger block on Jamal Murray seals Clippers’ Recreation 3 preserve vs. Nuggets

Kawhi Leonard’s protection likely rubs most offensive avid gamers the detestable design, nonetheless they need to not bewitch it in my belief. He locks up practically each person he defends. He is an equal-alternative stopper, nonetheless if Jamal Murray wished to be a bit offended after what Leonard did to him on Monday, no one would blame him. 

The play got right here with 1: 47 closing in the fourth quarter. The Clippers, after having trailed by as many as 12, had in the extinguish regained the lead in the closing minutes. To attain the Nuggets off, they’d hang to discontinuance down an offense that, coming into Monday, had scored over 150 points per 100 possessions in clutch cases in the playoffs. Denver gave the ball to Jamal Murray, one of many postseason’s breakout stars, and watched him drive to the basket for a dunk are trying. On first spy, it regarded as if he simply did not gather ample elevation and become as soon as blocked by the rim. On further inspection? Leonard managed to dam the shot… the usage of his heart finger. 

It’s price remembering that, social implications apart, the guts finger is the longest finger. It stands to motive that particularly discontinuance shot-block attempts could presumably well presumably come all of the design down to the defender giving the finger to an opponent. 

The block helped put the Clippers up 2-1 on the Nuggets, who, irrespective of their underdog set, very practically took two video games in a row off of the present championship favorites. Cruelness of the block apart, what they narrate: nice guys attain closing.