Kawhi Leonard has 25 points, Clippers rout Rockets 120-105

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled over the Houston Rockets 120-105 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.

The Rockets were done in by their shooting woes in a game that was billed as a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference, but was a rout almost from the start. Houston had a chance to take the season series and secure the tiebreaker over the Clippers, but the loss left the teams tied 2-2.

Houston made just 7 of 42 3-pointers to drop its second straight game in embarrassing fashion after losing to the lowly New York Knicks on Monday night. The Rockets ended their streak of 18 straight games with 10 or more 3-pointers dating to Jan. 20.

Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (2) goes up for a shot as Houston Rockets' Robert Covington defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Russell Westbrook led the Rockets with 29 points and 15 rebounds. James Harden was 4 of 17 and missed all eight 3-pointers he attempted to finish with 16 points. The two stars and most of the other starters on both teams didn't play for much of the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

The Clippers built a 67-44 lead by halftime after a first half where the Rockets made just 2 of 22 3-point attempts. Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 12 assists for Los Angeles and Montrezl Harrell added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Houston’s shooting woes didn’t end after the break and the Rockets missed 11 of 12 3-pointers in the third quarter, including a couple of air balls. But the Rockets didn’t just struggle from long-range as they also missed several layups in the quarter to leave Los Angeles up 90-65 entering the fourth.

Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook reacts after being fouled during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. The Clippers won 120-105. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

TIP-INS

Clippers: Patrick Beverley received a flagrant 1 foul for grabbing Harden with both arms from behind on a fast break in the third quarter. ... Paul George had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Rockets: Eric Gordon left the game in the fourth quarter with knee soreness and did not return. ... Westbrook extended his career-best streak of games with 20 points or more to 32. ... Danuel House Jr. had 14 points.

Houston Rockets' Jeff Green (32) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. The Clippers won 120-105. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

FACE-OFF

The Clippers were unhappy early in the fourth quarter when Harrell received a foul on a dunk attempt by Westbrook. Replays showed that Westbrook pressed his left hand into Harrell’s face as he elevated for the shot. But a challenge by Clippers coach Doc Rivers was unsuccessful and the foul call stood.

Harrell made a dunk soon after that and patted his head with both hands as he ran back down the court.

Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George (13) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. The Clippers won 120-105. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

UP NEXT

Clippers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

Rockets: At Charlotte on Saturday night.

Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook (0) drives toward the basket as Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac (40) goes up for a shot as Houston Rockets' James Harden defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook, right, is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers' Patrick Beverley, bottom, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. The Clippers won 120-105. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Los Angeles Clippers' Lou Williams, center, reaches for the ball as Houston Rockets' Ben McLemore, left, and Eric Gordon, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (2) drives toward the basket as Houston Rockets' Robert Covington defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Yes, Sean Payton would prefer to blame the Denver Broncos' stagnant offense on facing two backup quarterbacks whose teams were intent on keeping Bo Nix from running up the score.

“Yeah, I'd like to say that, but honestly, you guys know me well enough, we're going to have to play better,” the Broncos head coach said Friday after a spirited practice he compared to OTA days with the starters squaring off.

After losing 34-20 to Jacksonville at home on Dec. 21, snapping their 11-game winning streak, the Broncos won at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since 2015 when they beat the Chiefs and their third-string quarterback 20-13 on Christmas night.

With Justin Herbert and several of his teammates sitting out Week 18, the Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 19-3 but didn't score an offensive touchdown, going 0 for 3 in the red zone.

Still, those two victories helped secure the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs and the lone first-round bye that comes with it. They'll face the lowest remaining seed after wild-card weekend in the divisional round next week.

The popular narrative around Broncos Country is that Payton held back over the last two weeks with conservative calls and vanilla gameplans so as not to show anything to opponents heading into the postseason.

“I'd love to say that we pulled a bunch back, but the tape from last week wasn't really good offensively,” Payton said. “Wasn't great in Kansas City, either. It was good enough to win that game. But no, we've got to be sharper. As we get to these next games here we're going to see good teams that can score and we're going to see (stingy) defenses.”

That's why the Broncos didn't just go through the motions Friday when they reconvened after a 72-hour break to rest their minds and bodies following a 14-3 season.

“I said to them, ‘Look, I don’t want to go out and just fill in today, or just fill in time. I'm going to be honest with you, our third-down numbers bother me on each side of the ball,'" Payton recounted. "We can improve in that area.

“These games are going to come down to the 2-minute. I want those to be competitive, all right? And then I really want to work our red zone offense and defense.”

So, the Broncos didn't practice with the Chargers, Steelers, Texans or Bills in mind — those are the four teams they could face first in the divisional round — but were focused on execution and effort.

“Yeah, I was a little salty last week,” Payton said, referencing some harsh words he had for a columnist who made a wisecrack at his postgame news conference. “It wasn't just (the columnist). I was just salty.”

Payton is of the mindset that the biggest benefit to having the top seed is having to win just two games to reach the Super Bowl instead of three. Still, the rest and four days off were much needed and appreciated.

“It was good,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It was great to get rest and be able to chill out and enjoy some family time this week. My wife and I are about 2 1/2 weeks away from our second (child), so it's nice. We're nesting a little bit. But, no, it was good. Got the body right, get some treatment, get some workouts in during the week and then today was good, clean, get to kind of knock the rust off, get some long individual work in and then compete a little bit.”

McGlinchey concurred with his coach that the film review was uncomfortable and chock full of caveats.

“First and foremost, the obvious thing is executing in the red zone,” he said. “You've got to turn field goals into touchdowns and that's how you win games, especially this late in the year and especially as you go through the playoffs. Got to be better on third down — by being better on first and second down. ... We've just go to clean up details and we'll be fine."

After another similar practice Saturday, the Broncos will return to work either Monday or Tuesday, depending on when their first game is.

“You play great teams in the playoffs, that's the bottom line,” McGlinchey said. “It doesn't matter who we play. Whoever's going to come to town here is going to be a great challenge for us and we'll cross that bridge when we get there.”

NOTES: Payton said he expected ILB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) to return during the playoffs, but added he wasn't ready to make a prediction about the return of RB J.K. Dobbins from Lisfranc foot surgery.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Bo Nix (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Eric Lutzens)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Eric Lutzens)