Kahwi Leonard’s Scoring Run Fuels Clippers to Commanding Victory Over Jazz

Key Takeaways:

• Kawhi Leonard extended his run to 25 consecutive games with at least 20 points, scoring 21 in Salt Lake City last night
• The Clippers secured a 115-103 win against the Jazz, marking their ninth triumph in ten outings
• Utah’s Lauri Markkanen made his return from illness to record 19 points, but the Jazz have now lost seven of their last eight games

Match Analysis

The Los Angeles Clippers maintained their stellar post-Christmas form by overcoming the Utah Jazz 115-103 on Tuesday evening. Kawhi Leonard notched 21 points, pushing his streak of games with 20 or more to 25 – a feat achieved by only three other players in the franchise’s history: Bob McAdoo, World B. Free, and Blake Griffin.

James Harden also impressed, registering 16 points along with 10 assists. Kris Dunn delivered 14 points and recorded a season-high five steals for the visitors, instrumental during a pivotal third-quarter surge. The Clippers, now 22-24, have taken 16 victories from their past 19 contests after previously going 3-16 in a similar stretch.

Goodnight, #ClipperNation 😴😴😴 pic.twitter.com/qJGzvDuNcA

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 28, 2026

Pivotal Third Quarter and Defensive Prowess

After Utah shot out to a 10-0 run at the start and held a 54-53 halftime lead, Los Angeles clamped down on the defensive end. Dunn’s two steals and consecutive layups, followed by a three-pointer, engineered a decisive 10-2 burst in the third quarter to make it 73-61. Maintaining a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the match, the Clippers forced 17 Utah turnovers, converting those into 23 points. Los Angeles also notched 10 steals and forced several shot clock violations.

Player Performances and Historical Notes

Kawhi Leonard has spearheaded Los Angeles to a 14-2 record in the last 16 games he has appeared in, with the team currently riding a seven-game winning streak with him on court. Harden’s contribution ensured a seamless offensive flow, and despite playing at the NBA’s slowest pace, the Clippers managed to edge the Jazz 12-8 in fast-break points.

For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen returned from a seven-game absence due to illness to add 19 points, albeit on 5-for-15 shooting. Ace Bailey led Utah with 20 points, while Brice Sensabaugh contributed 13. However, the team, now 15-32, continues to struggle, having lost seven of their past eight games.

Utah was without both Jusuf Nurkic, sidelined by illness after three consecutive triple-doubles, and Keyonte George, rested after averaging 28.8 points across the previous five fixtures.

Looking Ahead

• Clippers will visit Denver on Friday
• Jazz are set to host Golden State on Wednesday