NBA: Kawhi Leonard's late heroics push Clippers past Rockets

Kawhi Leonard completed a tiebreaking three-point play with just two seconds left, lifting the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to a 105-102 comeback victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Leonard scored 19 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, rallying the Clippers from a 15-point deficit. His spinning fadeaway, made despite a foul from Jae'Sean Tate, gave Los Angeles the final lead in a back-and-forth closing period. Tari Eason missed a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer for Houston.

Leonard also led the Clippers with 12 rebounds and added a game-high four steals. Six Clippers finished in double figures, including Kris Dunn and Bennedict Mathurin with 16 points each, Brook Lopez with 15, and John Collins and Derrick Jones Jr. with 12 apiece. Los Angeles outscored Houston 22-2 in fastbreak points and converted 21 Rockets turnovers into 23 points.

Kevin Durant led Houston with 21 points, while Reed Sheppard added 17 points and five 3-pointers off the bench. Jabari Smith Jr. recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun posted 16 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Sengun missed a crucial free throw with 7.2 seconds left that could have given Houston the lead.

The Clippers closed the second half with a 26-6 run, taking an 87-80 lead on two Leonard free throws with 8:11 remaining. Early turnovers by Houston helped fuel the rally.

After struggling from long range the previous night, Los Angeles made 4 of 8 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Houston responded with a strong inside game, making 9 of 12 field goals within the arc and finishing the period with a 29-22 lead. Sheppard helped Houston extend the lead to 15 points in the second quarter with three early 3-pointers, though the Rockets’ advantage was trimmed to 10 by halftime.

—Field Level Media/Reuters