Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers sign their sixth success in a row!

To kick off 2026, the Clippers hosted the Jazz for their sixth straight win against a Utah team that had many absentees, including Keionte George etc Lauri Markkanen. Thanks for taylor hendricks the author of three fouls in less than three minutes, James Harden (20 points, 7 assists) gets a lot of free throws that allow the Californians to take an early lead. Tyrone Lue’s men started the match with a 16-0 lead early on Cody Williams scores the Jazz’s first points.

Los Angeles does not take its foot off the gas and gains a lead of 21 points after James Harden’s shot from the middle (28-7). However, the Salt Lake City franchise started its match at the end of this first act with a 10-3 run to take a 31-17 lead after twelve minutes. The Jazz followed through at the start of the second period with two straight baskets to pull back ten lengths (31-21).

Jazz doesn’t give up

I Kawhi Leonard (45 points on 16/29 shooting) puts Los Angeles back ten points, Clippers lack long range skill as Brooke Lopez author 0/9 from behind the arc in the first period. Jazz took the opportunity to return to four points through Cody Williams (42-38). Nicholas Batum (14 points, 4/6 shooting) gives the home team some breathing room with a long shot, but the Jazz are still behind the surprising Kyle Anderson author of 16 points on 7/8 shooting in this first period.

Thanks to the last basket ofIsaiah CollierThe Jazz trailed by just three points at halftime. The gap that is reduced to one unit after recovery. If Brook Lopez makes his first 3-pointer of the night, on the other side of the court, Kawhi Leonard commits a flagrant foul on a 3-pointer with Bruce Sensabaugh. At the line, the winger succeeds in two of his three attempts and gives the Jazz the first advantage of the match (60-58).

The answer comes to Kawhi Leonard who makes a 2+1, but Bruce Sensabaugh is the victim of another foul on a 3-point shot and brings the two teams back into the tie (62-62). The end of this third act is the exchange of blows and, thanks to the basket of Janić Konan-Niederhauser in the final moments the Clippers lead 82-81 before the start of the final act.

Last word for Kawhi Leonard

The fourth quarter where Kawhi Leonard catches fire. The Clippers wing connects on two shots from distance, while the Jazz lose two straight possessions. In the process, the two-time Finals MVP finds himself Derrick Jones Jr. from behind the arc then adds another game-winning shot, forcing Will Hardy to take a timeout.

This suspension of the game does not stop the good momentum of the Clippers, as Nicolas Batum intercepted Isaiah Collier’s pass, while Kawhi Leonard dunked on the counterattack (107-94). This hot shot from the former Raptors player puts an end to the Jazz’s hopes of a victory, which ends up losing 101 to 118. The Clippers are coming off their sixth straight before hosting the Celtics this Friday.

WHAT TO REMEMBER:

– Kawhi Leonard is still on cloud nine. Kawhi Leonard appeared at the beginning of the match when the Clippers led with 21 points, but at the end of the match he was decisive. While James Harden was benched during the fourth quarter, he put his team on his back. The Clippers wing scored 20 of his 45 points in the final act, including a run of 14 straight for his team to put his team away.

– Nicolas Batum makes a save on Brook Lopez. The Clippers lacked 3-point prowess at 16/51 from behind the arc, as Brook Lopez was never in rhythm. But since the pivot never stopped, he ended up a horrible 1/12 away. Only Nicolas Batum set the goal, the Frenchman racking up 14 points on 4/6 3-point shooting, including an important long-range shot in the fourth act just before Kawhi Leonard’s hot shot.

– A brave jazz team. With seven players out, including their top five scorers, the Jazz had to find new solutions to counter the Clippers. Solutions that Will Hardy found on his bench with the duo Cody Williams – Kyle Anderson. Jalen’s brother had the best game of his career and tied his career high with 18 points on 6/10 shooting. For his part, Kyle Anderson added 22 points.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / 3 points in an attempt; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.