Kawhi Leonard Bleeds, Scores 45, and Powers Clippers Past Jazz
So here’s what happened in Los Angeles, and honestly, this game had a bit of everything. On January 1st, 2026, the Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Utah Jazz, and by the end of the night, it was Kawhi Leonard who completely owned the story. The Clippers walked away with a 118–101 win, extending their winning streak to six games, and it was done largely on the back of a jaw-dropping 45-point performance from Leonard.
Early on, it looked like the Clippers were about to cruise. A huge first-quarter surge saw them jump out to a 21-point lead, with Utah struggling to find any rhythm at all. Shots were being missed, rebounds were hard to come by, and the Jazz looked overwhelmed in the opening minutes. But as this game showed, things were far from settled.
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Utah slowly clawed its way back, even while missing three key starters. By the time halftime arrived, the lead had shrunk to just three points. The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with the lead changing hands and the momentum swinging. At one point, Utah even grabbed its first lead of the night, and suddenly the Clippers were under real pressure.
That’s when Kawhi Leonard took complete control. For much of the fourth quarter, he was the only Clippers starter left on the floor, and it didn’t matter. Point after point was poured in, and remarkably, Leonard matched Utah’s entire scoring output in that final period all by himself. He scored 20 points in the fourth, calmly sinking jumpers and drilling three-pointers, even after his nose was bloodied from what appeared to be a scratch during play.
Seven straight three-pointers were hit by the Clippers during that decisive stretch, four of them coming from Leonard. Any hope Utah had was quickly pushed aside as the lead ballooned again. James Harden chipped in with 20 points, while Nicolas Batum added a steady 14, knocking down four three-pointers of his own.
To Utah’s credit, the fight never disappeared. Kyle Anderson led the Jazz with 22 points off the bench, marking his first 20-point game in nearly three years. Brice Sensabaugh added 20, and the Jazz dominated inside, scoring 58 points in the paint. Still, it wasn’t enough.
In the end, this game will be remembered for Kawhi Leonard’s toughness and dominance. Bloodied nose, heavy minutes, and total control when it mattered most—this was a superstar performance that reminded everyone exactly who Kawhi Leonard is.
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