Kawhi Leonard Praised By Dunn And Durant As Clippers Lift Offense With Clutch Closer

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Kawhi Leonard again delivered in a late-game moment, hitting a 13-foot jumper with two seconds left as the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 15-point deficit to edge the Houston Rockets 105-102. Leonard finished with a game-high 27 points, continuing a season in which Leonard is already averaging 27.9 points per game.

Kris Dunn summed up the Clippers’ approach in tight finishes by describing how the team clears space and trusts Leonard to create. Dunn highlighted how defenders must brace for transition once Leonard takes control, because possessions often narrow into a direct contest between Leonard and the rim.

The matchup swung in the final quarter after Houston had controlled large spells of the game. Leonard struggled through the first three quarters, going 3-for-10 from the field, yet still dictated the closing minutes. That shift underlined Leonard’s reputation across the league as a closer who remains dangerous despite early shooting problems.

Houston’s Kevin Durant underlined that view with an extended assessment of Leonard’s performance and influence. "He's a shotmaker, Durantsaid. 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."

The Clippers repeatedly relied on Leonard possessions as the Rockets’ lead began to shrink. According to Durant, Los Angeles fed Leonard even more because of absences elsewhere in the rotation. That tactical focus helped the Clippers erase Houston’s advantage and set up the decisive final play for Leonard near the foul line.

Key details from Leonard’s night and the Clippers’ rally can be broken down as follows.

The Clippers’ official account captured Leonard’s decisive basket and the team’s trust in that set, reinforcing how predictable yet hard to stop that option has become.

Leonard described the mindset that kept Leonard attacking despite the early misses against Houston. "You've got to keep shooting the basketball no matter what it is, Leonard said. That's what I did. I don't care about makes or misses. I'm going to try to keep shooting and win the game."

The 34-year-old’s patience and confidence under pressure shaped both the box score and the result. Leonard’s late surge turned a poor shooting start into a decisive display, while the Rockets saw a strong position slip away as the Clippers leaned on a familiar late-game option.