INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Kawhi Leonard made a jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 24-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers, 114-113, on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Leonard finished with 28 points, reaching 20 for the 50th straight game. Darius Garland led the Clippers with 30.
Los Angeles was run off the floor early by the team with the NBA’s worst record. The Pacers were a sizzling 8 for 11 from three-point range in the first quarter, opening a 42-21 lead.
It grew to 45-21 early in the second before the Clippers stormed back for their fourth straight victory, giving coach Tyronn Lue the 400th of his career.
Indiana had gone back ahead, 113-108, on Obi Toppin’s jumper with a minute to play. Leonard answered with a jumper, Garland made two free throws, and the Clippers got the ball back after Pascal Siakam missed a jumper. They inbounded along the left side to Leonard, who dribbled into the middle and pulled up for the winner.
Leonard become the 14th NBA player to score at least 20 in 50 straight games, a streak that began on Nov. 28.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 17 points against his former team, going 12 for 15 on free throws.
Aaron Nesmith scored 26 points and Toppin had 20 for the Pacers, who have dropped two in a row since the victory that snapped their 16-game winning streak. They lost forward Jarace Walker after he was evaluated for a concussion in the first half.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant scored 25 points and led a fourth-quarter rally as the Houston Rockets pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies with a 119-109 victory.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points and 16 rebounds, and Amen Thompson had 18 points as Houston ended a two-game slide. Durant also had 10 assists.
In Toronto, Scottie Barnes had 23 points and 12 assists, Jakob Poeltl had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 119-106.
RJ Barrett, Sandro Mamukelashvili and J’Kobe Walter also scored 18 points apiece for the Raptors, and Brandon Ingram added 13.