Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard reveals the biggest reason LA fell into a big hole against the Jazz
The The Los Angeles Clippers opened the 2025-26 NBA season with one of their worst performances in recent memory, they fell 121-108 to the Utah Jazz in a game that almost immediately got out of hand. Kawhi Leonardknown for his calm demeanor, he didn’t sweeten the team’s fight after the explosion, calling turnovers and bad defense as the biggest reasons behind the early collapse.
“We just didn’t take care of the ball,” Leonard said after the game. “They came out aggressive, they jumped in the pass and took advantage of every mistake we made. Once you start turning it over like that in the first quarter, it’s hard to get back into the game.”
The The Clippers committed more turnovers instead, they scored field goals in the opening frame, and by the time the first buzzer sounded, they were staring at a 43-19 deficit that effectively ended the contest. Leonard emphasized that a lack of focus and execution in those early minutes made it nearly impossible for Los Angeles to recover.
“It felt like we were playing catch-up from the start,” Leonard added. “They settled in, scored, and we couldn’t match their energy defensively. That first quarter set the tone, and we never found a rhythm after that.”
The final. pic.twitter.com/bsMVo8RsRh
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 23, 2025
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 19 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden and Brooke Lopez each added 15. Leonard struggled to find his touch, finishing with 10 points on just 3-of-9 shooting as the offense sputtered.
Head coach Tyronn Lue echoed Leonard’s assessment, pointing to a lack of intensity and ball control. “When you turn it over like that, you give a good team like Utah easy points,” Lue said. “We have to do better.”
The Clippers will look to regroup quickly as they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday, hoping to right their wrongs and prove that this ugly start was nothing more than an early-season wake-up call.
2025-10-23 11:59:00
