INGLEWOOD, Calif. — By the time Kawhi Leonard scored his last layup in the final two minutes, the outcome felt inevitable.
Leonard poured in 45 points on New Year’s Day, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers to a 118–101 win over the Utah Jazz and their sixth straight victory. It was another reminder that when Leonard looks like this, the Clippers look like a problem.
This wasn’t just a big night. It was a statement stretch.
Leonard has now scored 40-plus points three times in the last five games and for the 11th time in his career — his eighth as a Clipper. That ties him with Blake Griffin for the third-most 40-point games in franchise history. Even rarer territory? Leonard joined Paul George as the only players in team history to record multiple regular-season games with 45+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ made threes.
The Clippers are 6–0 during Leonard’s scorching run, and the numbers read as something pulled straight from a video game:
45 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL
33 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL
55 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST, 5 STL
28 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL
41 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 4 3PM
32 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL
That’s not a hot streak. That’s dominance.
The Clippers set the tone early, ripping off a 16–0 run to open the game before Jazz forward Cody Williams finally broke the seal with a dunk at the 7:05 mark of the first quarter. Defense fueled everything early — deflections, contested shots, controlled chaos.
The second quarter flipped the script as Utah outscored L.A. 33–22, trimming what was once a 21-point Clippers lead down to a slim 53–50 halftime advantage. The offense stalled, the defense softened, and suddenly the Jazz had life.
It stayed uncomfortable into the third.
Brook Lopez, who couldn’t buy a basket in the first half (0-for-8 from three), opened the second half by finally knocking one down — his first make after nine straight misses. The Clippers’ lead was down to 58–55 with just over 10 minutes left in the third, and the building felt tense.
Then Leonard decided it was time.
Leonard owned the fourth quarter. Four triples. A breakaway dunk. Cold-blooded shot-making that slammed the door shut. His personal run pushed the Clippers to a 107–94 lead with under six minutes to play and completely flipped the momentum of a game that was dangerously close to slipping away.
That stretch was the turning point — the moment Leonard reminded everyone why he’s still one of the league’s most feared closers.
Robert Talamantes – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Clippers Guard James Harden (1) attacks the rim of three defenders and scores during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday January 1st, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
James Harden played the perfect sidekick, finishing with 20 points, seven assists, and three rebounds in just 29 minutes. The Clippers’ bench delivered timely contributions as well, scoring 40 points. Nicolas Batum led the way with 14 points, drilling four of his six attempts from deep, while Kobe Sanders and Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in 10 points apiece.
The Clippers didn’t shoot the ball well overall — 16-for-51 from three (31.4%) — but they survived thanks to perimeter defense, holding Utah to just 6-of-27 from deep. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.
Utah got strong bench production, led by Kyle Anderson’s 22 points in 32 minutes and 18 from Cody Williams, but it wasn’t enough. Even with a 51–40 advantage in bench scoring, the Jazz couldn’t match Leonard’s firepower.
The win moves the Clippers to 8–8 at home, with two games remaining on the current homestand. Next up? A heavyweight test against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.
If Leonard keeps playing like this, though, the Clippers won’t be ducking anyone. They’ll be daring the league to stop them.