Clippers guard Kris Dunn, front, and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson battle for a rebound during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, center, recovers a loose ball for a turnover between Clippers guard Kris Dunn, lef t, and forward John Collins, right, during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, right, knocks the ball away from Clippers forward John Collins for a turnover during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson soars to the basket for a dunk in front of Clippers guard James Harden during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, left, reaches in as Clippers center Ivica Zubac looks to drive around him during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers guard James Harden, left, and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, scramble for a loose ball that Smith knocked away from Harden during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday, left, knocks the ball away from Clippers center Ivica Zubac, center, as guard Reed Sheppard, right, looks on during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, center, shoots the ball between Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and guard James Harden during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers forward John Collins, left, spins to the basket in front of Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, attempts to drive around Clippers forward Nicolas Batum during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers guard James Harden, right, drives past Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, right, is hit in the face as he knocks a rebound away from Houston Rockets center Steven Adams during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers center Ivica Zubac, center, tries to maintain possession of the ball after falling between Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, and Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, center, puts up a shot over Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0), guard Reed Sheppard (15) and center Steven Adams, right, during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson, left, spins to the basket around Clippers guard Kris Dunn during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, center, loses the ball on a drive to the basket while under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, and Rockets guard Amen Thompson during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, passes the ball while under pressure from Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun during the second half on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, hits Clippers guard Kris Dunn in the face next to Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, as Smith protects the ball on a rebound battle with 14 seconds left in the game on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, appeals to official Kari Lane as a possible flagrant foul call against Jabari Smith Jr. is reviewed during the last 14 seconds of their game against the Clippers on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reacts next to guard Kris Dunn after a technical foul was called during the second half of their game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Show Caption1 of 20Clippers guard Kris Dunn, front, and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson battle for a rebound during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Expand HOUSTON — The Clippers, in desperate need of any positive momentum, fell just short in another tight game. Amen Thompson’s three-point play on a tip-in with 17.2 seconds left helped the Houston Rockets to a 115-113 victory over the Clippers on Thursday night. On a night when the Rockets – the best rebounding team in the NBA – dominated the glass again, Thompson tipped in Alperen Sengun’s miss to break a 110-110 tie, was fouled by Kris Dunn and made the ensuing free throw. The putback came on Houston’s third offensive rebound of the possession and 21st of the night. The Clippers had two possessions with a chance to tie the score, but the Rockets prevailed in a wacky closing stretch to win for the sixth time in eight games. After Thompson’s three-point play, the Rockets fouled Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who made just one of his two free throws. Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. rebounded the miss but was whistled for an offensive foul when he swung his arms and made contact with Clippers guard Kris Dunn, giving the Clippers the ball with 14 seconds left down by two. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was called for an offensive foul with 11 seconds left, giving the ball back to the Rockets. Aaron Holiday split two free throws with 8.7 seconds left to keep the margin at three points, but Nicolas Batum turned the ball over on an inbounds pass. Sengun then made one of two at the line for a four-point lead with 6.5 seconds left, essentially sealing the outcome. Thompson shot 8 for 12 from the field and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The Rockets (16-6) outrebounded the Clippers 51-28 and avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 24. Zubac matched a season-high with 33 points on 13-of-14 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds for the Clippers (6-19), who lost their third game in a row and eighth in the past nine games. Leonard was dynamic on both ends, posting 24 points, nine rebounds and five steals in a season-high 41 minutes. James Harden had 22 points and seven assists against his former team, including a 3-pointer with 37.1 seconds left that tied the score at 110-110. Sengun led the Rockets with 22 points and 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Smith finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Durant scored 13 of his 16 points in the third quarter. Holiday and Reed Sheppard combined for 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting from 3-point range off the Houston bench. The Clippers shot 50% from the field, but the lopsided rebounding totals gave the Rockets a plus-15 advantage on shot attempts. Thompson had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in the fourth quarter as Houston erased an 82-80 deficit entering the frame. Three early Clippers turnovers fueled a fast start for the Rockets in the fourth, but when Leonard drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and Harden later added a three-point play, the Clippers cut an eight-point deficit to one with 7:04 to play, setting up the tight finish. The Clippers pulled even at 29-29 to end the first quarter, only for the Rockets to open the second with a 9-0 run. The Clippers responded with a 10-2 surge, but they didn’t get over the hump until late in the first half, when Zubac produced two dunks, a layup and a free throw, giving the Clippers a 54-51 halftime lead. His layup at the 1:02 mark gave the visitors their first lead of the night. 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