Clippers storm back from down 20 to beat Rockets

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th March, 22:23 2024

Mar 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball as Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. credits: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 28 points while Paul George scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 122-116 on Wednesday.

Leonard added six rebounds and seven assists to his ledger while shooting 11 for 18 from the floor. He was the linchpin in helping the Clippers slice into that 20-point deficit late in the first half, then carried them down the stretch of the fourth quarter.

Leonard drilled a pull-up jumper with 3:44 remaining that pulled the Clippers even at 108-108. He followed by assisting on a George corner 3-pointer with 2:48 left that gave the Clippers a 111-109 lead, their first since midway through the first quarter. Then, at the 2:06 mark, he hit a jumper through a Jabari Smith Jr. foul. His subsequent free throw upped the lead to 114-109.

James Harden added 21 points and seven assists for the Clippers, who received 12 points from Norman Powell off the bench. The Clippers finished 22 for 26 from the free-throw line. The Rockets were 10 of 17.

Alperen Sengun posted his second triple-double of the season with 23 points, 19 rebounds and a career-high 14 assists. Smith added 19 points for the Rockets while Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet scored 15 points apiece. Rookie Cam Whitmore scored 17 off the Houston bench.

Houston established a double-digit margin early, turning a 12-0 first-quarter run that featured 3-pointers from Green and Whitmore into a 27-14 lead. The Clippers whittled that deficit to eight points entering the second period but the Rockets continued to surge, extending their advantage to 50-30 when VanVleet drilled a 3-pointer with 5:18 remaining in the first half.

That's when Leonard came alive, fueling a 12-2 rally with his scoring and playmaking that sliced the deficit in half. Houston maintained a double-digit lead at 57-44 by the break, largely by recording 16 assists on 23 field goals. But with Leonard, the Clippers found a path to success.

—Field Level Media

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