The LA Clippers and Utah Jazz squared off at the Intuit Dome on New Year’s Day, setting the stage for an early 2026 Western Conference showdown that, on paper, looked like a battle of two teams desperate to reverse their fortunes. While neither squad has set the league alight this season, the matchup drew plenty of attention—not just for the stakes, but for the swirling storylines and the shifting odds that kept bettors and fans alike on the edge of their seats.
The Clippers entered the contest riding a rare wave of momentum, boasting an 11-21 record but, crucially, a five-game winning streak—their longest run of the season. That run included a resounding 131-90 blowout of the Sacramento Kings just a night prior, with superstar Kawhi Leonard pouring in 33 points and the team covering the spread as 10-point favorites. For a team that started the season with more questions than answers, the recent surge had fans and analysts alike asking: could this be the spark that finally ignites the Leonard era in Los Angeles?
Utah, meanwhile, limped into Inglewood with a 12-20 record, having lost five of their last seven games. Their most recent outing was a 129-119 defeat at home to the Boston Celtics, a game that snapped a brief two-game win streak and underscored the Jazz’s struggles on both ends of the floor. The Jazz have been especially porous defensively, allowing an average of 130.5 points per game over their last ten outings—a stat that hardly bodes well when facing a Clippers team suddenly brimming with confidence.
Injuries and absences loomed large for Utah. The Jazz were without several key contributors: Ace Bailey (hip), Georges Niang (foot), Kevin Love (rest), and Jusuf Nurkic (toe) were all sidelined. Lauri Markkanen (knee) and Keyonte George (illness) were both listed as questionable leading up to tipoff, but neither was expected to play. That left the Jazz alarmingly thin, particularly in the scoring department. As noted by DraftKings Sportsbook, the absence of Markkanen and George meant Utah entered the game without a single player averaging double-digit points this season. The scoring load, it seemed, would have to fall on the shoulders of sophomore big man Kyle Filipowski, who, despite averaging just 9.6 points per game, had flashed potential with a pair of 25-point performances in December.
The Clippers, too, were dealing with injuries. Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and Ivica Zubac (ankle) were both out, but the LA roster remained considerably more intact than Utah’s patchwork lineup. And with Kawhi Leonard in the midst of a torrid scoring stretch—averaging 37.8 points and four made three-pointers per game during the Clippers’ win streak, shooting an eye-popping 46.5% from deep—the home side looked poised to take full advantage of the depleted Jazz.
Bookmakers certainly thought so. The Clippers were installed as heavy 14.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Jazz listed as +650 underdogs. BetMGM set the moneyline at Clippers -700 and Jazz +500, while the Over/Under hovered around 232.5 points. The spread reflected both LA’s recent form and Utah’s injury woes, with the Clippers having covered the spread in each of their last eight outright wins and the Jazz a dismal 1-8 against the spread in their last nine outright losses.
There was history to consider, too. The two teams first met this season back in October, with the Jazz stunning the Clippers 129-108 in Salt Lake City. Utah shot a blistering 55% from the field in that game, with three players scoring at least 20 points, and the Over (225) easily cashed. But much has changed since that season opener, especially for the Jazz, whose roster has been decimated by injuries and absences.
For the Clippers, the story of the season has been the resurgence of Kawhi Leonard. Often maligned for his injuries and inconsistent availability, Leonard has silenced critics during this winning streak. According to SportsbookWire.com, "Kawhi Leonard has averaged 37.8 points per game in the streak." He’s been particularly lethal from beyond the arc, making five threes in back-to-back games and capitalizing on Utah’s league-worst defense against the three-point shot (the Jazz have surrendered 15.3 opponent threes per game, the highest mark in the NBA).
James Harden, once a triple-double machine, has seen his rebounding numbers dip as he’s aged. This season, Harden is averaging just 4.9 rebounds per game—his lowest mark since the 2013-14 campaign—and only 3.3 boards per contest in December. While his scoring and playmaking remain valuable, the Clippers have increasingly relied on Leonard and their supporting cast to control the glass and set the tempo.
On the other side, the Jazz’s offensive hopes rested largely on Filipowski. Despite his modest season average, the young big man has shown he can rise to the occasion, as evidenced by his two 25-point outbursts last month. With so many regular contributors sidelined, Utah’s offense was expected to run through him, but the challenge of facing a Clippers defense that had held opponents under 110 points in five straight games loomed large.
Betting experts predicted a comfortable Clippers win, with a projected final score of 127-110 and recommendations to bet the spread at -12.5 and the Over at 232.5. The Over/Under was particularly intriguing, given that Utah had played nine straight games with totals higher than 232 points, while ten of the Clippers’ last eleven games had failed to reach that mark. Would LA’s stifling defense win out, or would Utah’s fast-paced, high-scoring style dictate the tempo?
As tipoff approached, anticipation built around whether the Clippers could extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the Western Conference, or if the undermanned Jazz could pull off another upset, reminiscent of their season-opening rout. With both teams looking to turn the page on a challenging 2025, the New Year’s Day clash at the Intuit Dome promised drama, intrigue, and perhaps a glimpse of brighter days ahead for one of these struggling franchises.
With the game still ongoing, all eyes remain glued to the action, eager to see whether LA’s momentum continues or Utah’s resilience shines through. One thing’s for certain: in the unpredictable world of the NBA, anything can happen—and tonight’s matchup is living proof.
