Just before Christmas, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers play against the Rockets!

The Rockets are going through a complicated road trip with three losses in their last four games. For this fifth stop, the Texans left their bags in Los Angeles to challenge the Clippers who lostIvica Zubac hit the ankle and away for at least the next three weeks.

Houston manages to start the match, especially thanks to Kevin Durant (22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks), the author of the first seven points of the Rockets Jabari Smith Jr takes over from the two-time NBA champion. Together, the duo scored 22 of the guests’ 35 points in this first act, who led by six points after twelve minutes (35-29).

The second quarter begins with a winning kick from Nicholas Batum (6 points on 2/4 shooting). In the process, the Clippers decide to shoot 3-pointers a lot. A strategy that pays off as Angelino returns to the point thanks to a long range arrow from Chris Dunn followed Brooke Lopez (47-46). If Ime Udoka is forced to take a time-out, it is not enough to stop the good momentum of the locals who can count on Kawhi Leonard (41 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) to regain the lead. The winger had a solid first half, with 18 points to his name. After him, the Clippers led 63 to 58 entering the locker room.

Kawhi Leonard will get 40 points

If the second half opens with a dunkAmen Thompson (19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists), it is the Clippers who shine with their skill.

Thanks to three free throws from James Harden (29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists), lead by ten points John Collins he used the opportunity to show himself with two winning shots and increased the deficit (92-75). Tyronn Lue’s men maintain this lead until the end of this third quarter and still have a 16-point lead when they start the final action (98-82).

If Houston tries to come back for a score, the Texans’ hopes quickly dried up Kobe Sanders which connects two remote arrows to restore air to Los Angeles. Six minutes after time, James Harden definitively closes the action with a winning shot that gives the home team a twenty-point advantage, which is the biggest deficit in the match (116-96).

The Clippers won 128-108 and offered themselves a second straight success. Kevin Durant’s teammates had lost four of their last five games before challenging the Lakers this Thursday.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– The Clippers are finding the paint again. After the first success against the weakened Lakersthe Los Angeles franchise did it again with a commanding victory against Houston. From the first half, the Californians were valuable with only two turnovers. Usually, the Clippers break down after the break, but that wasn’t the case this time. The locals continued to crush their evening opponent, especially thanks to their prowess from long range (54% success from behind the arc). The highlight of this successful evening was the performance of Kawhi Leonard, the author of 41 points while shooting 16/23 and 4/5 from distance.

– Complicated evening on the jump. Without Ivica Zubac, it was obvious that the Clippers would suffer on the rebound from then on Brooke Lopezreplacing the Croat in the rotation, catches just two a night despite his 2m16. Tyronn Lue’s men were outplayed in this stretch of the game against Houston with 34 catches to 42 for the Texans. This gap was especially evident early in the game where the Rockets increased the number of offensive rebounds (15 total for Houston compared to only 6 for the Clippers) to give themselves numerous second chances. The good news for the Californians, however, was that this weakness did not prevent them from winning.

– Complicated “journey”. For more than a week, the Rockets were on a six-game Western Conference road trip and this one fell short. After five games, the men from Ime Udoka had won just one and suffered three overtime losses before this heavy setback against the Clippers. Houston will play the last game of this trip this Thursday against the Lakers at Cripto.com Arena.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.