Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and James Harden added 29 to lead the Los Angeles Clippers (8-21) to a 128-108 win over the Houston Rockets (17-10) on Tuesday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Leonard shot 16 of 23 from the field and 4 of 5 from three-point range, marking a dominant performance in consecutive wins for Los Angeles.
The Clippers trailed by six after the first quarter but outscored Houston 34-23 in the second to take a 63-58 lead at halftime. Leonard contributed 18 points in the first half, while Harden added 11, helping Los Angeles control the pace.
John Collins and Kobe Sanders each scored 13 points, and Kris Dunn added 11, as the Clippers shot 54% from three-point range (20 of 37) and 55% overall. Los Angeles led 98-82 after three quarters, fueled by a balanced attack and high-efficiency shooting.
Kevin Durant led Houston with 22 points, while Alperen Sengun added a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Amen Thompson scored 19, and Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 16, but the Rockets struggled from deep, making just 30% of their three-point attempts (9 of 30).
Los Angeles’ defense tightened in the third, limiting Houston to 34 points in the second half while Leonard scored 23 of his 41 points. Harden also excelled at the free-throw line, making 12 of 13 attempts to extend the Clippers’ margin.
The Clippers improved to 8-21, winning consecutive games for only the second time this season, while Houston dropped to 17-10, losing four of their last five contests. Los Angeles’ shooting and balanced scoring proved decisive against the high-powered Rockets offense.
Up next, the Rockets visit the Lakers on Thursday, while the Clippers travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Friday.
