Kawhi Leonard Becomes Part of the Exclusive Clippers Club with Victory Against the Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY— The Los Angeles Clippers secured a commanding 111-99 victory against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, marking their ninth win in ten games. Kawhi Leonard led the offensive charge with 21 points, while James Harden contributed with 16 points and 10 assists.
Leonard’s impressive performance extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 25 consecutive games, joining franchise legends Bob McAdoo, World B. Free, and Blake Griffin in achieving this milestone.
Kris Dunn also played a significant role, adding 14 points and a season-high five steals for the Clippers, who now hold a record of 22-24. Since Christmas, the team boasts the best record in the NBA, having triumphed in 16 of their last 19 games following a challenging stretch where they went 3-16.
The momentum shifted during the third quarter, when the Clippers launched a 10-2 run, featuring two critical steals and layups from Dunn, as well as a three-pointer that pushed their lead to 73-61. They maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
On the other hand, Lauri Markkanen returned for the Jazz after a seven-game absence due to illness, scoring 19 points on five-for-15 shooting. Despite his efforts, the Jazz fell to 15-32, having lost seven of their last eight games. This loss also marked just the second instance in the last 30 games that Utah failed to score 100 points.
Ace Bailey netted 20 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 13, but the absence of key playmakers harmed the Jazz’s performance. Jusuf Nurkic, who has recorded triple-doubles in his last three games, was sidelined due to illness, while Keyonte George, averaging 28.8 points over the past five games, was rested.
The Jazz initially surged, scoring the first 10 points of the game and holding a narrow lead of 54-53 at halftime. However, the Clippers tightened their defense, generating 10 steals and forcing multiple shot clock violations. Utah struggled with turnovers, committing 17 that resulted in 23 points for Los Angeles. Despite playing at the league’s slowest pace, the Clippers also outscored the Jazz in fast-break points, 12-8.
