Kawhi Leonard Game-Winner Thrills Fans as Clippers Seal Comeback Win vs. Kevin Durant, Rockets

Kawhi Leonard was not about to lose two games in two nights to the same team.

The Los Angeles Clippers star led his team to a dramatic 105-102 victory over Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in Wednesday's Western Conference showdown at Toyota Center. While Los Angeles trailed by double digits for extended stretches, Leonard took over down the stretch and converted an and-one jumper with two seconds remaining to secure the win.

He finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals as one of six Clippers to score in double figures. Bennedict Mathurin provided critical support off the bench with 16 points and three steals off the bench.

As for Houston, it was unable to replicate Tuesday's win over the same opponent despite 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Durant and 17 points behind five made three-pointers from Reed Sheppard.

It wasn't enough to counter Leonard, who drew plenty of reaction from social media:

Los Angeles lost Tuesday's contest in large part because of a lack of offense, as Leonard and John Collins were the only ones who scored in double figures.

It was more of the same out of the gates Wednesday, as Kris Dunn was the only one in double figures as it fell behind by 10 by halftime. Leonard and the bench—outside of Mathurin—were non-existent as scoring threats during that first half.

Durant was also quiet in the early going on the other side, but Amen Thompson mixed in a number of dunks while Sheppard provided a spark off the bench by catching fire from deep. Jabari Smith Jr. also extended his game beyond the arc as a matchup problem, meaning the Rockets didn't need Durant to carry the offense like he does so often.

It seemed like the Rockets would cruise without a major day from Durant when they extended their advantage to as many as 13 late in the third quarter.

And then everything flipped.

Mathurin and Leonard spearheaded a Clippers run with the latter giving the visitors the lead with a layup with fewer than 10 minutes remaining. It also helped Los Angeles' efforts that Houston went ice cold and managed just six points from two minutes remaining in the third quarter until seven minutes left in the game.

Los Angeles seized a seven-point lead as a result, although Durant shifted into takeover mode from there with seven straight points and then an assist to tie the game. It set up the back-and-forth finish, but Leonard provided the exclamation mark at the end.

It was quite the way to go into the All-Star break for the Clippers, who will look to build some momentum for the season's stretch run.