Kawhi Leonard delivered a blistering finish to lift the Los Angeles Clippers past the Houston Rockets, scoring 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Leonard capped his night with a tiebreaking three-point play with two seconds left, providing the decisive points in a tight closing sequence. The late surge underscored Leonard’s ability to take over in winning time, as the Clippers leaned on him heavily down the stretch.
Fourth-quarter takeover
After a quieter first three quarters by his standards, Leonard flipped the game in the final period, accounting for the bulk of his scoring when the margin was at its thinnest. His 19-point fourth quarter turned the contest into a one-man closing act, punctuated by the final play that put Los Angeles ahead for good.
The Clippers’ win was defined by Leonard’s late-game shot-making and poise, while the Rockets were left on the wrong end of a finish decided in the final seconds.