Kawhi Leonard delivered in the clutch, scoring 27 points and converting a go-ahead three-point play with two seconds remaining to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 105-102 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Leonard, who also grabbed 12 rebounds, poured in 19 of his points in the fourth quarter and extended his career-best streak of 20-point games to 33. After Alperen Sengun tied the game at 102 with one of two free throws with 7.2 seconds left, Leonard secured the rebound, took a timeout and then hit a fading jumper while being fouled. He calmly converted the free throw to put the Clippers ahead for good.
Houston had one final opportunity, but Tari Eason’s potential tying shot missed at the buzzer.
The Rockets had erased a late deficit to tie the game. Kevin Durant, who led Houston with 21 points, knocked down a corner 3-pointer in the final minutes, and Sengun’s late free throw pulled the Rockets even. Reed Sheppard added 17 points off the bench.
The Clippers trailed by 13 late in the third quarter before mounting a 12-0 run to get back into the game. In the fourth, Los Angeles scored 12 straight points — nine by Leonard — to take an 87-80 lead midway through the period. Houston answered with a 13-4 run, highlighted by seven points from Durant, to move ahead 93-91 with 4:30 remaining.
The teams traded blows down the stretch before Leonard’s heroics sealed the victory.
Up next:
The Clippers host Denver on Feb. 19, while the Rockets visit Charlotte on Feb. 19.
