Leonard and Garland look to be building chemistry pretty quickly.
The Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Sacramento Kings 138-109 on Sunday night, and after the game Kawhi Leonard had nothing but good things to say about his new teammate Darius Garland.
The two-time Finals MVP was asked about Garland's personality and how he's fit in since coming over from Cleveland at the trade deadline, and his answer said a lot about where things stand between them.
"He's outgoing, a little bit of a jokester," Leonard said. "He fits right in with everybody, making jokes, bringing laughter to the team, bringing good energy and a good vibe. That's pretty much what he brings."
A Blowout Win at the Right Time
The win moved the Clippers to 40-38 on the season and into a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with the Portland Trail Blazers with just four games left.
It was a game they needed after dropping two straight, and they came out swinging from the opening tip.
Leonard scored 13 points in the first quarter alone and finished with 26 on the night as the Clippers built a double-digit lead early and never let up.
John Collins added 25 points while Garland and Kobe Sanders each chipped in 17 as four players scored at least 17 in the blowout.
For a team that started the season 6-21 and looked completely lost, the fact that they are fighting for a playoff spot in April is a story in itself.
Leonard has been the biggest reason for the turnaround, averaging 28.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while playing 61 games this season, which is more than he's played in years.
The Garland Effect
The Clippers acquired Garland from the Cavaliers on February 5 in a one-for-one swap for James Harden, and the deal has already paid off in a big way.
Garland missed his first month with the team while recovering from a toe injury but since making his debut on March 2 against the Warriors he has looked like the player who earned two All-Star selections in Cleveland.
He is averaging 18.9 points and 6.8 assists per game this season and has been shooting the ball with confidence, including a 41-point explosion against Dallas on March 22 that had everyone buzzing.
What makes Leonard's comments about Garland interesting is that Kawhi is not exactly known for being the most talkative guy in the locker room.
For him to go out of his way to highlight Garland's energy and personality shows that the connection between them is real and not just something that works on the court.
The two share a New Balance relationship that goes back a couple of years, and Garland made it a point early on to sit next to Leonard on the bench and on the plane to build that bond.
The Clippers still have work to do if they want to avoid the play-in tournament, and their final four games will go a long way in determining their postseason path.
But having two guys like Leonard and Garland who clearly trust each other and enjoy playing together gives this team something it hasn't had since early in the Harden era.
If the Clippers can stay healthy and keep building that chemistry, they could be a tough out for anyone in the West.