Clipperholics
Fansided

Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ comeback win over Rockets

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets on November 22, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets on November 22, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 is congratulated by Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers during the second half of a game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on November 22, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 is congratulated by Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers during the second half of a game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on November 22, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Kawhi Leonard, Paul George come up big in the fourth

Lou Williams wasn’t the only player that had a monster performance in the second half. The LA Clippers’ two main stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, made their presence felt as well.

Entering the fourth quarter, Leonard and George were sitting at 13 points and 11 points, respectively. They would finish with 24 and 19 — combining for 19 of LA’s 42 fourth-quarter points (Lou Williams had 12 points of his own in the quarter).

It’s not always about totals, though. As impressive as Leonard and George’s numbers were in this one, what’s most noteworthy is the time at which those points came.

Down 84-80 going into the final frame, Leonard came out firing and scored the Clippers’ first six points of the period. LA surrendered a bucket in between, but the last shot of Leonard’s opening streak still tied the game back up at 86.

He missed his next few shots, but he was still finding other ways to contribute — rebounding, assisting his teammates and of course playing lockdown defense.

George didn’t show up until later in the quarter, but when he did, it was in a major way.

Down five with a minute to go, Williams found George behind the three-point line, and he fired up a shot that fell through the net with 51.7 seconds left on the clock. It was now a one-possession game, which set up Williams for a three-pointer of his own that would give the Clippers a one-point lead with 30 seconds to go.

Houston would score on the following possession, which gave the Clippers one final opportunity to win the game.

The shot could have gone to either of LA’s big three — Lou, Kawhi or PG — but it ended up going to Leonard. And with ease, he sank the go-ahead bucket that put the Rockets away for good.

https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1198124058212102147

As the season progresses and the Clips build more chemistry, we’ll probably see them in fewer situations like this one. That said, it’s nice to know that they’re well-equipped to win even the most stress-inducing games — and especially those against the league’s better teams.

Home/Clippers News