HOUSTON — Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and his three-point play with two seconds remaining lifted the Los Angeles Clippers to a 105-102 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Leonard, who had 12 rebounds, scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to extend his career-best streak of 20-point games to 33.
The Clippers led by four points when Kevin Durant made one of two free throws before a layup by Alperen Sengun cut the lead to 102-101 with 43 seconds left. Leonard missed a 3-pointer and Jabari Smith Jr. grabbed a rebound to give Houston the ball.
Sengun shot 1 for 2 from the line with 7.2 seconds left to tie it and Leonard got the rebound before the Clippers called a timeout. Leonard then made a fadeaway jumper as he was fouled and hit the free throw to make it 105-102.
Houston had a chance to tie it, but Tari Eason’s shot was off.
Durant led the Rockets with 21 points and Reed Sheppard added 17 points off the bench.
Houston had a two-point lead before the Clippers made five consecutive free throws to make it 98-95 with 2 ½ minutes remaining.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Houston. Credit: AP/Eric Christian Smith
Durant hit a 3-pointer from the corner a few seconds later to tie it before a pair of free throws by Leonard put the Clippers back on top. A dunk by John Collins pushed the lead to 102-98 with about 90 seconds remaining.
The Rockets were up by five before the Clippers scored the next 12 points, with nine from Leonard, to take an 87-80 lead with about eight minutes to go.
Houston got going after that, using a 13-4 run, with seven points from Durant, to take a 93-91 lead with 4 ½ minutes to go.
Houston led by 13 late in the third quarter before the Clippers went on a 12-0 run to cut the lead to 76-75 with 11 minutes left.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Houston. Credit: AP/Eric Christian Smith
Up next
Clippers: Host Denver on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Rockets: Visit Charlotte on Thursday, Feb. 19.