Clutch defense and timely scoring ignited a second-half comeback.
The Los Angeles Clippers headed into their second straight game in Houston on Wednesday looking to bounce back after a 102-95 loss to the Rockets just one night earlier.
Things didn't start well for Ty Lue's group, as the Rockets built a 13-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and it looked like Houston was going to close out the sweep of the back-to-back before the break.
That is not what happened.
Kawhi Leonard scored 19 of his 27 points in the final period, capped off by a fadeaway jumper through contact with two seconds left, and the Clippers pulled off a 105-102 comeback heading into the All-Star break.
Lue Credits the Defense
After the game, Lue pointed straight to the defensive end when asked about how the Clippers flipped the script in the second half.
"Well, I think what he's saying is because we turned them over 21 times, so when they got shots up they scored, but we was able to blitz and cause chaos," Lue said. "We was able to shoot the gap or steals, turn them over, get out of the transition, and that's what helped us out."
He summed it up simply. "So, I want to say our defense, being great, and being physical, and in the bodies, protecting the paint, understanding the game plan."
Houston's 21 turnovers were the story of the night.
The Clippers turned those mistakes into transition buckets that chipped away at a comfortable Rockets lead, and a 12-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters cut the deficit from 13 to just one.
From there it was a back-and-forth battle that Leonard decided with his signature shot.
New Faces Step Up
One of the biggest takeaways was the play of the Clippers' new additions. Bennedict Mathurin, acquired from Indiana in the Ivica Zubac trade before the deadline, had his best game in a Clippers uniform with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
It was a big step up from his nine-point debut on Tuesday and showed he can be the secondary scorer this team needs alongside Leonard.
Kris Dunn chipped in 16 points and six assists, John Collins added 12 and six rebounds and Brook Lopez finished with 15.
Where Things Stand
The win moved the Clippers to 26-28 heading into the All-Star break, sitting 2.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
The Rockets fell to 33-20 with the loss, dropping to third in the West.
It has been a wild ride for the Clippers this year, going from 6-21 to winning 20 of their last 27 despite reshaping their roster at the deadline.
Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, and his 33-game streak of scoring 20 or more is a career best.
With Darius Garland still expected to debut after the break, there is reason to believe this team can keep climbing.
For now, Lue can feel good knowing his group showed it can compete with one of the best teams in the West and that the defensive identity he is building is taking shape.