Clippers Top Rockets Behind Fourth Quarter Surge
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets, 121-100, at crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

The Clippers (23-22) moved over the .500 mark with a comfortable win against a depleted and shorthanded Rockets (10-33) team that put up a fight, but wasn’t able to contend with the Clippers for the entire 48-minute span. With the win, the Clippers moved to 13-10 at home while the Rockets fell to 4-19 on the road. The game was tight in each of the first three quarters, though, with Los Angeles securing a 31-30 lead in the first quarter only to see the Rockets storm back with a 33-31 score in the second one. Los Angeles recovered the advantage following a 29-27 score in the third period and the Clippers held a slim one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Clippers dominated and the Rockets crumbled in the final 12 minutes. A 30-10 score allowed the Clippers to race out to victory, and even though they ended up winning by 21 points, that’s not a fair reflection of what happened in the contest.

Terance Mann was the top scorer for the Clippers and posted 31 points with six rebounds and four assists, while Kawhi Leonard notched 30 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Ivica Zubac had 10 points and five rebounds, and Norman Powell delivered 18 points coming off the bench. No other Clippers player scored in double digits.

Eric Gordon stepped his game up and led the Rockets in scoring after posting 24 points, and Alperen Sengun notched a strong game with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kenyon Martin Jr. delivered 22 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith had 12 points and five boards while shooting 5-for-15 from the field. Tari Eason had 11 points off the bench.
Posted on: 1/15/2023 3:17 PM
Houston Rockets
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Los Angeles Clippers
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