Kawhi Leonard had another excellent night on Tuesday against the visiting Dallas Mavericks, as the Los Angeles Clippers earned their 41st win of the season. 

Leonard dropped 34 points on six three-pointers as the Clippers recovered after blowing a 23-point lead to beat the Mavs, 116-103. It was another dominant performance from a guy who's been one of the most consistent players in the league all season long.

After the game, Leonard was asked where his work ethic comes from and whether he models it after anyone specific. His answer went in a direction nobody expected.

"Just being wise about it," Leonard said. "With any craft, if it's being a producer or rapper, or a basketball player, tennis player, they always talk about the work and the consistency that they have. From all the greats in any genre or any aspect of their craftsmanship, it's always about work."

That's a pretty telling window into how Leonard's mind works. He's not looking at one player and trying to copy what they do. He's pulling from every lane of greatness he can find, whether that's music, sports, or anything else. The common thread across all of it, in his view, is just showing up and doing the work.

It makes sense when you watch him play. Leonard has never relied on flash or highlight plays to carry his nights. He grinds possession by possession, and his game reflects a level of discipline that very few players in the NBA can match.

Tuesday's win was his 55th straight game scoring 20 or more points. You don't get a streak like that without some kind of deeply rooted commitment to consistency.

Leonard has averaged 27.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals over his past nine games. At 34 years old, he's having one of the best scoring seasons of his career, and that's exactly the kind of output his work ethic philosophy produces.

Tuesday's win was about more than Leonard's quote though. The Clippers moved a full game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers with the victory, sitting at 41-38. The eighth-place team of course gets two shots at making the playoffs through the play-in tournament, so staying ahead of Portland is huge with just a few games left.

Darius Garland added 22 points and Derrick Jones Jr. contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds to help LA survive the Mavericks' comeback attempt. The Clippers needed all of it after letting a big cushion vanish in the second half.

Leonard's individual consistency has been the anchor keeping this team afloat all season. If his mindset is any indication, he's not planning on letting up before the postseason starts either. The Clippers are still playing for something this season, and that would have been unthinkable just a few short months ago.