Houston Rockets Triumph Over Los Angeles Clippers
In a decisive matchup on Tuesday evening, the Houston Rockets clinched a 102-95 win against the Los Angeles Clippers, propelled by Kevin Durant’s impressive 26-point performance. Alperen Sengun also contributed significantly with 22 points, showcasing a strong offensive display for Houston.
Fourth Quarter Surge
Entering the final quarter, the Rockets held a slight six-point advantage, which they quickly expanded upon by scoring the first seven points of the period. This surge brought their lead to 85-72 just over a minute into the quarter. Although Kawhi Leonard managed to sink two free throws, the Rockets responded once more, pushing their lead further. At one point late in the fourth quarter, Houston enjoyed a comfortable 12-point cushion following a steal by Durant from Brook Lopez, subsequently leading to Reed Sheppard’s off-balance three-pointer that widened the gap to 92-77 with approximately six and a half minutes left on the clock.
Clippers’ Struggles
With just a minute remaining, the Rockets maintained a 15-point lead, prompting Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue to empty his bench. Leonard was the standout player for Los Angeles with 24 points, despite having scored 41 during a prior meeting between the two teams back in December, where the Clippers triumphed 128-108. In that earlier encounter, Los Angeles had been prolific from beyond the arc, sinking 20 three-pointers, but on Tuesday night, they struggled with their shooting, finishing with only 8 out of 30 attempts.
Additional Contributions
Additional contributions for Houston came from Jabari Smith Jr., who notched 13 points along with 11 rebounds, and Amen Thompson, who added 16 points upon his return after a brief illness that sidelined him during the previous game against Oklahoma City.
Bennedict Mathurin, recently acquired from Indiana, made his debut with nine points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes of play. Notably, Darius Garland, who joined the Rockets in the trade involving James Harden, was unavailable due to a toe injury.
Upcoming Matchup
The two teams will face off again on Wednesday night in Houston, marking their last game before the All-Star break.
