Leonard has 28 points as Clippers rally late for 122-116 win over Rockets
HOUSTON (AP) Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, and Paul George and James Harden each scored 21 as the Los Angeles Clippers rallied for a 122-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 20 points and didn’t lead in the second half until there were less than three minutes remaining.
“In the first half it was like we were running in mud,” Clippers' coach Tyronn Lue said. “We couldn’t keep up with them. They got out in transition and we just couldn’t get back and get matched. So at halftime we made a strong point about that.”
Los Angeles overcame another big night from Houston big man Alperen Sengun, who had 23 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and 14 assists for his fourth career triple-double. It came a night after he scored a career-best 45 points in a win over San Antonio.
Jabari Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer got the Rockets within 2 with less than two minutes to go. Norman Powell made one of two free throws for the Clippers before Sengun missed two free throws with just over a minute remaining to leave Houston down 115-112.
Fred VanVleet got a technical with 48 seconds left arguing about a foul called on Sengun on a shot attempt by George. He made all three free throws to extend the lead to 118-112 and send the home fans streaming for the exits.
Leonard was asked about the difference in his team from the first to second half.
“Just coming out with more energy,” he said. “I feel like especially in the first quarter we were sluggish, thinking we were just going to win the game. Then we obviously started picking it up with our energy and started cutting and screening.”
Smith added 19 points for Houston and rookie Cam Whitmore had 17.
“We guarded well in the first half and didn't in the second half,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “Credit to them because they do have three really good scorers that can get it going, but you'd like to have a little more resistance or consistency between the two halves.”
The Clippers used an 8-1 run to make it 111-109 and give them their first lead since early in the first quarter with just under three minutes to play. Powell started that run with a 3 and George capped it with another one before pointing to his teammates on the bench.
Houston missed a shot after that before Leonard had a 3-point play to extend the lead to 114-109 with two minutes left.
Houston led by 10 after a basket by Dillon Brooks early in the fourth quarter before Los Angeles used a 9-4 run to cut the lead to 96-91. Harden led the way in that stretch, scoring seven points.
Whitmore made a 3 for the Rockets before an 8-2 run by the Clippers, powered by 3s from George and Leonard cut the lead to 101-99 midway through the quarter.
The Rockets were up by 11 with about three minutes left in the third quarter before the Clippers used an 8-1 run to get to 82-78 with about 90 seconds left in the quarter.
Sengun and Brooks both made a basket for Houston after that, but Leonard ended the quarter with a jump shot to cut the lead to 86-80 entering the fourth.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host Chicago Friday night.
Rockets: Visit Portland Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ivica Zubac vs. Alperen Sengun (Jabari Smith Jr. gains possession) | |||
11:42 | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving finger roll layup | 0-2 | |
11:22 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Alperen Sengun steals) | |||
11:13 | Jalen Green misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:10 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Ivica Zubac misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:55 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
10:49 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point running layup | |||
10:48 | Fred VanVleet offensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | |||
10:43 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
10:32 | Ivica Zubac misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:29 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
10:18 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 0-4 | |
9:56 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-4 | |
9:40 | Alperen Sengun misses two point jump shot | |||
9:38 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Jabari Smith Jr. personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
9:27 | +3 | James Harden makes three point pullup jump shot | 5-4 | |
9:01 | James Harden shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | |||
9:01 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:01 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-5 | |
8:52 | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving finger roll layup | 7-5 | |
8:40 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:38 | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | |||
8:29 | Dillon Brooks misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:26 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
8:18 | Paul George misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:16 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
8:08 | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 7-8 | |
7:46 | Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Ivica Zubac's two point dunk | |||
7:45 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:30 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
7:26 | Jalen Green personal foul (Terance Mann draws the foul) | |||
7:20 | James Harden misses two point driving layup | |||
7:18 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
7:12 | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running finger roll layup (Dillon Brooks assists) | 7-10 | |
6:53 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot | 9-10 | |
6:36 | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 9-13 | |
6:35 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
6:11 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:09 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
5:55 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 9-15 | |
5:31 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 11-15 | |
5:10 | Alperen Sengun misses two point jump shot | |||
5:08 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | +2 | James Harden makes two point running layup | 13-15 | |
5:05 | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
5:05 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-15 | |
4:49 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 14-17 | |
4:26 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:24 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
4:15 | Daniel Theis kicked ball violation | |||
4:05 | Dillon Brooks misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:03 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
3:52 | James Harden misses two point driving layup | |||
3:50 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
3:28 | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 14-20 | |
3:12 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
3:10 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
3:06 | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:50 | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:48 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
2:32 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving reverse layup | 14-22 | |
2:16 | Daniel Theis offensive foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | |||
2:16 | Daniel Theis turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:16 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
2:02 | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | |||
2:00 | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | |||
1:57 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point tip layup | 14-24 | |
1:44 | Norman Powell misses two point driving layup | |||
1:43 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
1:38 | Jalen Green misses two point running layup | |||
1:33 | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | |||
1:33 | Amen Thompson misses two point tip layup | |||
1:31 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Bones Hyland misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:28 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Daniel Theis personal foul (Loose ball) (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | |||
1:04 | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point stepback jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 14-27 | |
0:47 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point pullup jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 17-27 | |
0:41 | Daniel Theis blocks Amen Thompson's two point driving layup | |||
0:38 | Bones Hyland defensive rebound | |||
0:34 | Jock Landale personal foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
0:21 | +2 | Bones Hyland makes two point driving layup | 19-27 | |
0:01 | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:01 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:47 | Amir Coffey turnover (traveling) | |||
11:34 | Ivica Zubac blocks Cam Whitmore's two point driving reverse layup | |||
11:34 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
11:30 | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | |||
11:27 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Paul George turnover (bad pass) (Amen Thompson steals) | |||
11:23 | Cam Whitmore misses three point running jump shot | |||
11:21 | Jock Landale offensive rebound | |||
11:19 | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point tip layup | 19-29 | |
10:54 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving floating jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 21-29 | |
10:41 | Ivica Zubac blocks Jock Landale's two point layup | |||
10:39 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Amir Coffey misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:34 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
10:32 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point putback layup | 23-29 | |
10:12 | Amen Thompson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:10 | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | |||
10:08 | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Amir Coffey draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-29 | |
10:08 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-29 | |
9:57 | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 25-32 | |
9:42 | Bones Hyland turnover (lost ball) (Fred VanVleet steals) | |||
9:39 | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running dunk | 25-34 | |
9:22 | Bones Hyland misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:19 | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running layup (Aaron Holiday assists) | 25-36 | |
9:14 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
8:59 | Paul George turnover (lost ball) (Fred VanVleet steals) | |||
8:56 | James Harden blocks Cam Whitmore's two point running layup | |||
8:56 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
8:42 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:35 | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | |||
8:29 | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running layup (Amen Thompson assists) | 25-38 | |
8:11 | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
8:11 | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:11 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
8:11 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-38 | |
7:47 | Fred VanVleet misses three point fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:45 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
7:33 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:31 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
7:28 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
7:26 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
7:19 | Alperen Sengun misses two point driving layup | |||
7:17 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:09 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 26-40 | |
6:56 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-40 | |
6:43 | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 28-43 | |
6:25 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:23 | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot | |||
6:09 | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | |||
6:07 | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 28-46 | |
5:54 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point driving layup | 30-46 | |
5:44 | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | |||
5:44 | Alperen Sengun misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:44 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
5:44 | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-47 | |
5:29 | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:27 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
5:18 | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-50 | |
5:17 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
4:58 | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 33-50 | |
4:46 | Terance Mann personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | |||
4:39 | Alperen Sengun turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:28 | Ivica Zubac turnover (offensive goaltending) | |||
4:10 | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | |||
4:09 | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | |||
4:03 | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | |||
4:01 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point stepback jump shot | 35-50 | |
3:25 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
3:23 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
3:07 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
3:05 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
2:53 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point floating jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 35-52 | |
2:45 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Alperen Sengun steals) | |||
2:39 | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
2:27 | Jalen Green shooting foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
2:27 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-52 | |
2:27 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-52 | |
2:11 | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
2:06 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point running jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 40-52 | |
2:04 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
1:50 | Jae'Sean Tate turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
1:46 | +2 | James Harden makes two point layup | 42-52 | |
1:34 | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 42-55 | |
1:19 | Jalen Green personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
1:09 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:07 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||