The Los Angeles Clippers were left for dead after a disastrous 6-21 start to the season, including an embarrassing 21-point blowout loss to the Utah Jazz on opening night that had critics questioning whether this veteran-laden roster could compete. 

Fast forward to Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, and the Clippers answered those doubts emphatically with a 115-103 victory that put an exclamation point on one of the most impressive turnarounds in the NBA this season.

Kawhi Leonard led the way with 21 points while James Harden stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points and 10 assists as Los Angeles improved to 22-24 on the year. 

The win marked the Clippers’ ninth victory in their last 10 games and continued a stretch that has seen them go 16-3 since December 20, which is the best record in the entire league during that span.

Kris Dunn Sparks Third-Quarter Takeover

The Jazz actually came out firing and held a 54-53 lead at halftime after scoring the game’s first 10 points, but Los Angeles locked in defensively after the break and completely flipped the script. 

Kris Dunn was the catalyst for the turnaround as he recorded a season-high five steals while adding 14 points, with his back-to-back buckets during a 10-2 run in the third quarter giving the Clippers a 73-61 advantage they would never relinquish.

I can’t believe some Clippers fans ever complain about Kris Dunn. Top 3 Clipper contract of this century.

— Mark Thompson (@mathomp_501) January 28, 2026

Dunn and Harden combined for nine steals on the night as the Clippers’ defense forced 17 Utah turnovers that led to 23 points. Brook Lopez chipped in 14 points of his own to give Los Angeles three players in double figures off the bench, which showcased the depth that has fueled this remarkable run.

Jazz Continue to Struggle

Utah dropped to 15-32 with the loss and has now dropped seven of their last eight games as their season continues to spiral. 

Ace Bailey led the Jazz with 20 points while Lauri Markkanen added 19 points on 5-for-15 shooting in his return from a seven-game absence due to illness, but it wasn’t nearly enough to slow down a Clippers team playing with supreme confidence.

The Jazz were also without starters Keyonte George, who sat out for rest, and Jusuf Nurkic, who missed the game due to illness.

Looking Ahead

For the Clippers, this win served as the ultimate revenge for that ugly opening night defeat when the young Jazz ran them out of the gym in a 129-108 rout that had people wondering if this veteran roster was simply too old to compete. 

Since that low point, Los Angeles has completely transformed their identity and now sits in the 9th spot in the Western Conference with a legitimate shot at climbing into playoff position.

The Clippers will look to keep the momentum rolling when they visit Denver on Friday, while the Jazz host Golden State on Wednesday.