Clippers Beat Rockets: Kawhi Leonard 4th Quarter Heroics | NBA Scoreboard
- February 12, 2026 – The Los Angeles Clippers secured a hard-fought 105-102 victory over the Houston Rockets Wednesday night, fueled by a spectacular fourth-quarter performance from Kawhi Leonard.
- The game, a rematch after the Rockets defeated the Clippers the previous night, saw Houston leading by as many as 15 points.
- The decisive play unfolded as Leonard drove to the basket, drawing a foul from Jae'Sean Tate while completing a fadeaway jumper.
Clippers Edge Rockets in Thrilling Finish, Kawhi Leonard Dominates Fourth Quarter
– The Los Angeles Clippers secured a hard-fought 105-102 victory over the Houston Rockets Wednesday night, fueled by a spectacular fourth-quarter performance from Kawhi Leonard. Leonard scored 19 of his 27 total points in the final frame, culminating in a clutch three-point play with just two seconds remaining to seal the win.
The game, a rematch after the Rockets defeated the Clippers the previous night, saw Houston leading by as many as 15 points. However, the Clippers, boasting the best record in the NBA since December 20th at 20-7, rallied to overcome the deficit and improve their overall record to 26-28.
The decisive play unfolded as Leonard drove to the basket, drawing a foul from Jae’Sean Tate while completing a fadeaway jumper. “Tried to get something going left, saw a double-team,” Leonard explained, according to ESPN. “So I spun and just got to a spot and shot over the top.” He then calmly sank the ensuing free throw, securing the Clippers’ seventh consecutive win in clutch situations.
Leonard’s performance marked his 33rd consecutive game scoring at least 20 points, the third-longest such streak in a single season and fourth-longest overall in Clippers history. He also has five games this season with 15 or more points in the fourth quarter, second only to Donovan Mitchell, who has eight.
The Rockets, now 33-20, acknowledged Leonard’s impact. “He’s a shotmaker,” said Houston forward Kevin Durant. “He can make shots from all over the floor. Then they’re missing a couple of guys, so they’re playing through him the majority of the night. He’s just patient out there, one of the greatest of all time. You’ve got to be worried about a guy like that all game.”
Clippers guard Kris Dunn emphasized the team’s trust in Leonard during critical moments. “Give him the ball and get out of the way,” Dunn said. “Get ready for defense, honestly. He’s one of the best to get to a spot. He knows his spot. Once he gets going, it’s just him and the basket, honestly.”
Elsewhere in the NBA on , the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Charlotte Hornets 107-110, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 138-113, the Orlando Magic topped the Milwaukee Bucks 108-116, the Boston Celtics overcame the Chicago Bulls 124-105, the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the New York Knicks 89-138, the Detroit Pistons won against the Toronto Raptors 113-95, the Houston Rockets lost to the LA Clippers 102-105, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 133-109, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-116.
Other notable results included the Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Phoenix Suns 136-109, the Utah Jazz’s win against the Sacramento Kings 121-93, and the San Antonio Spurs’ triumph over the Golden State Warriors 126-113.