HOUSTON — Since the calendar turned to 2026, the Los Angeles Clippers have thrived as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. However, this month has brought some new adversity, with roster turnover at the trade deadline and four losses in seven games. That adversity only seemed to intensify in the second leg of a back-to-back in Houston, when the Rockets built a 13-point advantage late in the third quarter.
However, the Clippers found the perfect solution to this situation: Kawhi Leonard.
advertise
In his final game before representing his hometown as a seven-time All-Star at All-Star Weekend, Leonard reminded everyone why he belongs on that stage. Entering the fourth quarter, Kawhi Leonard’s performance was mediocre by Kawhi Leonard’s standards, scoring just eight points on 3-for-10 shooting.
“I don’t know,” Leonard said of his 3-for-10 start. “That’s part of it. No matter what happens, you’ve got to keep shooting, and that’s what I do. I don’t care if the shot is made or missed. I’m going to try to keep shooting.”
But the fourth quarter was all about the All-Stars taking over in a resurgent season. Leonard scored 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and with 6.9 seconds left, it was clear to everyone on the court who the Clippers would rely on to make the decisive shot.
advertise
“Come on, that’s Kawhi,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “The game was in front of us and we knew where the ball was going to go.”
Leonard shook off Amen Thompson, dribbled three times to his left, then spun to his right and hit a high mid-range jumper. With 2.0 seconds left in the game, he not only hit the net but also drew a foul, helping the Clippers win 105-102 on the road.
“T. Lue passed the ball to me at the top of the key,” Leonard recalled. “I tried to move left and saw the double team, so I turned around and got into a position and shot the ball over the goal.”
Leonard’s shot was the pinnacle of a night of rejuvenation for the Clippers – a microcosm of their season, which saw them turn a 6-21 start into a 26-28 record heading into the All-Star break. Los Angeles trailed 76-63 late in the fourth quarter but quickly went on a 24-4 run to take control. Bennedict Mathurin has been one of the most notable sparks during the comeback. In his second game with the team, the former Indiana Pacer was aggressive and often soaked up contact at the rim, scoring nine of his 16 points from the free throw line.
“I like his toughness, his aggressiveness, and he can play without the ball,” Clippers point guard Kris Dunn said of his new teammate. “He’s just another player that can really help both sides of the floor and help us win.”
advertise
One atypical advantage the Clippers can take advantage of is their fast break advantage. Los Angeles ranks fifth in the league in fast-break points per game and had zero issues beating the Rockets. The Clippers enjoyed a 22-2 advantage on Houston’s fast break, often turning turnovers into easy buckets for the opponent. John Collins and Kris Dunn led the way, scoring 28 points on the night, which included 13 steals for the Clippers.
“That’s the identity we’re trying to create here,” Dunn said. “Myself, (Collins), (Derrick Jones Jr.), Ben (Maturin) all performed well tonight. Kawhi, he was always there. Brook (Lopez), he protected the rim. Everybody else that comes into the game, that’s the identity we try to create. Once we get stopped, we just go out there and run.”
The Clippers overcame a burned Reed Shepard, who scored 17 points (14 in the first half) on 5-of-10 shooting from outside. Los Angeles trailed by 15 points in the first half as Shepard took control of the second quarter. Although the Rockets shot 56.4 percent from the field in the first half, Lue remained reassured by his team’s defensive effort given the constant deviations and confusion.
“We made them turn the ball over 21 times, so when they made shots they scored,” Lue said. “But we were able to blitz and create chaos, we were able to make plays in between snaps and get out of tight spots in transition. That’s what helped us out.”
The Clippers responded with a promising offense early in the third quarter. Dunn’s two three-pointers, Kawhi Leonard’s two free throws and Collins’ powerful dunk launched a 10-0 climax for the visiting team, chasing the score to 64-61 at 6 minutes and 34 seconds of the game. The Rockets lost no time in regaining their rhythm. Durant and Shepard each made three-pointers to gain a 76-63 advantage. But ultimately, Leonard’s fourth-quarter takeover was too lethal for Houston to overcome.
advertise
“It was a whole team effort,” Lue said. “I just felt like we were down 13 points and the guys kept fighting, kept competing, kept competing. That’s what we have to do every night. We’re not going to make shots every night, but we can play hard and compete, and that’s what our guys did tonight. I’m proud of them.”
The Clippers (26-28) have not lost consecutive road games since winning the second round of a doubleheader in Houston on Dec. 11 and 18. They now fly back to Los Angeles to host All-Star Weekend as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and enter the playoffs with 28 games remaining.
“No matter who we play, every win is important to us because we’re the seed now,” Leonard said. “We have to move up the rankings and try to get out of the play-ins. This is our season.”