Strong fourth quarter elevates Rockets past Clippers
Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun combined for 48 points as the Houston Rockets turned a rally to start the fourth quarter into a 102-95 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Durant scored 26 points and hit three 3-pointers while Sengun tallied 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Amen Thompson added 16 points and six rebounds for the Rockets, and his transition dunk with 11:20 remaining gave the Rockets their first double-digit lead at 83-72.
Kawhi Leonard totaled 24 points and eight rebounds for his 32nd consecutive 20-point game, while John Collins had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard and Collins were the lone double-digit scorers for the Clippers, who emptied their bench down 15 with 5:28 left.
Reed Sheppard scored 16 points off the bench for Houston. His running layup pushed the Rockets to an 89-74 lead with 9:15 to play, and his two fourth-quarter 3s kept the Clippers at bay. The Rockets did not allow a field goal in the final period until Bennedict Mathurin scored through a foul at the 7:45 mark, with his subsequent free throw cutting the deficit to 89-77.
The Rockets finished 14 of 28 from behind the arc, helping offset 18 turnovers the Clippers converted into 17 points. Jabari Smith Jr. (13 points, 10 rebounds) added a double-double for the Rockets, who have won seven of their last 10.
The Clippers' early prowess in the paint allowed them to overcome a quiet start from Leonard, who scored two points in the opening period. The Clippers trailed 27-26 entering the second after scoring 16 paint points in the first and converting four Houston turnovers into five points.
After Sengun and Smith scored in the paint to lift the Rockets to a 35-31 lead, the Clippers responded with consecutive 3-pointers from Brook Lopez and Derrick Jones Jr. They ignited a seesaw stretch that continued through the remainder of the half, with the teams combining for seven lead changes and six ties in the second quarter alone.
Behind a combined 24 points from Collins and Leonard, the Clippers led 52-51 at the break.