NBA playoffs 2019: Who is Meyers Leonard? 5 fast facts about the Trail Blazers forward

E.Jay Zarett

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NBA playoffs 2019: Who is Meyers Leonard? 5 fast facts about the Trail Blazers forward image

Meyers Leonard had a half to remember Tuesday.

The 27-year-old forward scored 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the first 24 minutes of the Trail Blazers’ Game 4 matchup with the Warriors in the Western Conference finals. He also knocked down five of his six 3-point attempts in the period.

In total, Leonard finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes of action. He added a big dunk in the fourth quarter, as well. 

The Trail Blazers, however, fell to Golden State in overtime, 119-117. With the win, the Warriors completed a sweep of Portland and reached their fifth straight finals.

Here are five fast facts about the Portland forward

— Leonard finished with 25 points in the first half of Game 4 against the Warriors in 16 minutes on the floor. He had never scored 25 points in an NBA game entering Tuesday.

— The Trail Blazers originally selected Leonard out of Illinois with the 11th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He has spent his entire seven-year career with the team and signed a four-year, $41 million extension with Portland in July 2016.

— Leonard played in 61 games for the Trail Blazers this season. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-best 45% from 3-point range. But, he averaged just 14.4 minutes per appearance.

— Leonard’s brother, Bailey, is in the Marines. They were reunited after about two years apart in this touching video while the forward was at Illinois.

— The big man’s best season came in 2015-16. He averaged career-highs in points (8.4), rebounds (5.1), assists (1.5) and minutes (21.9) per game.

 

E.Jay Zarett