Draymond Green Praises Kawhi Leonard After Warriors' 126-121 Play-In Win

Green's stifling defense on Leonard proved crucial in the Warriors' victory over the Clippers.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:05pm by

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the intense basketball action between the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers, with Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard as the central figures, their movements and forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes.Draymond Green's defensive masterclass against Kawhi Leonard proved crucial in the Warriors' narrow victory over the Clippers in the high-stakes play-in tournament.San Francisco Today

Draymond Green was the unsung hero of the Golden State Warriors' win over the LA Clippers in the Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday. Green's stifling defense on Kawhi Leonard, limiting him to just one shot in the final 16 minutes, was a key factor in the Warriors' 126-121 victory. Despite the win, Green was humble and showered praise on Kawhi's greatness.

Why it matters

The Warriors-Clippers matchup was a highly anticipated play-in game, with both teams vying for a spot in the NBA playoffs. Green's defensive performance against one of the league's elite players, Kawhi Leonard, showcased his elite defensive skills and ability to impact the game without scoring.

The details

Green held Leonard to just 9 points on 8 shots while defending him on 51 half-court matchups. Kawhi barely took a shot with Green all over him, and he committed five turnovers in the last two quarters, the most by him since 2019. Green's strategy was to limit Kawhi's shots, and it eventually paid off.

  • The Warriors defeated the Clippers in the Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Draymond Green

A defensive specialist and former Defensive Player of the Year for the Golden State Warriors.

Kawhi Leonard

A star player for the LA Clippers and one of the greatest players in the NBA.

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What they’re saying

“Kawhi is one of the greatest in our league. I wanted to try to limit the shots he gets.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors player

“The thing about Kawhi, you think you got him stopped… he can always raise up into his shot… He took 17 shots. I like that because in a situation like this, I know he's probably looking to take 20+ shots, but if I can just get him to not take 3 or 4 more shots with the efficiency that he plays with, that's stopping 10 more points.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors player

“I savor the moments of being able to play great players. It's an honor to play against an all-time great like Kawhi Leonard. … I appreciate playing against the all-time greats, and Kawhi Leonard is one of the greatest our league has seen.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors player

“Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up.”

— Kawhi Leonard

What’s next

The Warriors will advance to the NBA playoffs, where they will face a higher-seeded opponent in the first round.

The takeaway

Draymond Green's defensive masterclass against Kawhi Leonard showcased his elite skills and ability to impact the game without scoring. The mutual respect between the two players highlights the competitive spirit and camaraderie in the NBA.