March 7 (UPI) -- San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard was the recipient of a random drug test from the NBA after arguably his biggest game of the season in Monday night's 112-110 win over the Houston Rockets.
Leonard matched Houston's James Harden with a game-high 39 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds remaining before blocking Harden's layup attempt on the other end with 18.9 ticks to go.
The NBA drug tests players randomly four times during the regular season and twice in the offseason.
"Kawhi wanted it badly," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters, "and he went in and took it."
Leonard reportedly took longer than usual to provide a urine sample due to dehydration. The 25-year-old and two-time All-Star is seventh in the league in scoring, averaging 26.3 points per game.
Leonard downplayed the notion that Monday's performance increased his standing in the NBA's MVP Award race.
"I don't know how they pick or choose it," Leonard told reporters. "I'm just playing basketball."
San Antonio (49-13) is 2 1/2 games behind the Golden State Warriors for first place in the Western Conference.
