INGLEWOOD, Calif. – On the eve of Christmas Eve, the Los Angeles Clippers gave their fans at the Intuit Dome an early holiday gift. In front of a raucous crowd, the Clippers put together an impressive 128-108 win over the Houston Rockets, a team that has been surprising many this season. The victory marked the Clippers’ eighth of the season, a much-needed performance after a slow start to the year.
Kawhi Leonard’s Season High Caps Off Another Dominant Performance
The night’s biggest story was once again Kawhi Leonard, who put together another scoring masterpiece. The Clippers’ superstar dropped a season-high 41 points, keeping his foot firmly on the gas throughout the game. Leonard’s scoring came from a variety of spots on the floor, from mid-range jumpers to driving layups and a few perimeter bombs, showcasing his versatility as one of the most complete players in the NBA.
Despite the loss, the Rockets came in with a 17-9 record and had shown they could compete with the best of them this season. But the Clippers were simply too much on both ends of the floor. Leonard’s scoring outburst led the charge, but it was the defensive effort that truly set the tone.
Clippers’ Defensive Pressure Forces Rockets to Struggle from Deep
The defense was stifling. Houston could only muster a mere 30% from beyond the arc, connecting on just 9 of their 30 three-point attempts. The Rockets’ offense, which had been one of the league’s most efficient this season, had no answer for the defensive schemes cooked up by head coach Tyronn Lue. The Clippers did an excellent job closing out on shooters, contesting every shot, and limiting Houston’s rhythm from deep.
Meanwhile, the Clippers’ offense was clicking on all cylinders, shooting 54.1% (20-for-37) from three-point range, providing ample support to Leonard’s efforts.
James Harden and Kevin Durant Keep Things Interesting
While the Clippers did most of the damage, it wasn’t a quiet night for the Rockets. Kevin Durant, the 8th all-time leading scorer in NBA history, pulled up to the Intuit Dome and delivered his usual stellar performance, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, adding five rebounds and an assist in just 29 minutes of play. It’s clear Durant is still one of the game’s elite talents, even as his career winds down.
But it was James Harden who brought the heat in the second half. Harden, playing in front of his home crowd, erupted for 29 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-14 from the field and shooting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Bench Contributions Keep the Momentum Going
While Leonard led the charge, the Clippers received solid support from their bench, which has often been inconsistent this season. Kobe Sanders, in particular, stood out, dropping 13 points in just 17 minutes of play. Sanders was perfect from three, going 3-for-3, and his timely scoring helped the Clippers maintain their cushion throughout the game. The bench depth will be key for the Clippers moving forward, and this was one of the better performances they’ve had from their reserves all season.
The game was never really in doubt after the Clippers’ massive third quarter. With just three minutes remaining in the period, John Collins drained a three-pointer off an assist from Leonard, giving the Clippers a commanding 92-75 lead. The Intuit Dome crowd erupted, sensing that a win was well within their grasp. From that point forward, the Clippers played steady, controlled basketball, increasing their lead to as much as 26 points, their largest of the game.
Shorthanded, but Still Effective
The Clippers did have some adversity to contend with, most notably the absence of Ivica Zubac, who is out for the next couple of weeks after suffering a grade 2 left ankle sprain in the win over the Lakers on Saturday. Brook Lopez filled in as the starting center but struggled early, missing his first four shots. However, Lopez did make his lone field goal of the game late in the second half—a three-pointer to give him five points on the night, to go along with two free throws.
Even with Zubac out, the Clippers’ depth shone through. Kris Dunn did a solid job handling the point guard duties, and John Collins contributed another solid performance with 13 points, adding to the team’s defensive stability and perimeter shooting.
What’s Next for the Clippers?
With this win, the Clippers now have some breathing room as they prepare for a short break before heading to Portland for a matchup with the Trail Blazers on Friday. While the season is still young, this win was a reminder of the potential this team has when the defense is locked in and the offense is firing on all cylinders. For now, the Clippers can enjoy a hard-fought victory and rest up before heading into another challenging stretch of games.
As the calendar flips to 2026, fans will be hoping that this victory can spark a run of consistent performances as the Clippers work to improve their 8-21 record and start climbing the standings.