Inglewood, California—The Utah Jazz may have walked into the Intuit Dome shorthanded and as underdogs, but for three quarters on Thursday night, they gave the Los Angeles Clippers everything they could handle. Ultimately, Kawhi Leonard’s spectacular 45-point performance, complete with a bloodied nose and a fourth-quarter scoring spree, proved too much, as the Clippers pulled away late for a 118-101 victory and extended their winning streak to a season-best six games.
The night began ominously for the Jazz, who were missing three starters: Lauri Markkanen (knee), Keyonte George (illness), and Jusuf Nurkic (toe). The depleted lineup struggled to find its rhythm, missing their first six shots and grabbing only one rebound in the first six minutes. The Clippers, meanwhile, raced out to a 16-0 lead, with James Harden and Leonard setting the tone early. By the end of the first quarter, the Jazz trailed 31-17, marking the third time this season they’d allowed 15 or more points before scoring themselves. As Ben Anderson noted, “This is the third time this season the Jazz have trailed 16-0 to open a game.”
But Utah, as they have so often this season, refused to fold. Cody Williams, who would go on to post a career-high 18 points, sparked the Jazz’s offense with a thunderous dunk—their first bucket of 2026. “First bucket of ’26 is a Cody JAM,” the team’s social media account exclaimed. The bench, led by Kyle Anderson, rallied the visitors with an 18-4 run in the second quarter, chipping away at what had been a 21-point deficit. Anderson was everywhere, finishing with a season-high 22 points and eight rebounds, his first 20-point game in nearly three years. “Kyle Anderson scores a season-high 22 points to lead the Jazz off the bench,” reported KSL Sports.
By halftime, the Jazz had closed the gap to just three points, trailing 53-50. Anderson and Williams combined for 28 points in the opening half, and Brice Sensabaugh—who would finish with 20 points—began finding his groove as well. “Cody’s 12 points in the first half marks a new career-high for points in a half for him,” the Jazz noted. The Jazz outscored the Clippers 33-22 in the second quarter, with Leonard scoring LA’s first nine points of the frame to keep the hosts ahead.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, featuring six ties and Utah’s first lead of the night. Isaiah Collier, who posted an impressive double-double with 16 points and 10 assists, orchestrated the offense with poise. Sensabaugh and Williams continued to attack the basket, and Taylor Hendricks added energy on both ends. Svi Mykhailiuk’s corner three tied the game at 58, and for a moment, it looked like the Jazz might complete the comeback. “Through three, the @utahjazz trail the @LAClippers 82-81. Cody Williams has a career-high 15 points, while Brice Sensabaugh is up to 16,” tweeted KSL Sports.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Kawhi Leonard. Playing with visible blood on his nose—reportedly from a scratch—Leonard was the only Clippers starter on the floor for much of the final period. He singlehandedly matched Utah’s point total in the quarter, pouring in 20 of his 45 points as the Clippers hit seven straight three-pointers, four of them from Leonard himself. “Kawhi Leonard is giving me 2019 flashbacks,” Chandler Holt remarked, referencing Leonard’s legendary postseason runs. The Jazz simply couldn’t keep pace as LA’s offense erupted.
James Harden chipped in 20 points and seven assists for the Clippers, while Nicolas Batum came off the bench to hit four of six from deep and finish with 14 points. John Collins grabbed 11 rebounds, helping the Clippers win the battle on the glass, 56-48. Los Angeles also forced 18 Jazz turnovers and outscored Utah 36-20 from beyond the arc, making 16 threes to Utah’s six.
Despite the loss, several Jazz players turned in notable performances. Anderson’s 22 points and eight boards led all Utah scorers, and his efficiency (8-of-10 from the field) was a bright spot. Sensabaugh’s 20 points came on 7-of-15 shooting, and he added three assists. Williams’ 18 points—on 6-of-10 shooting, including two triples—marked a new personal best, while Collier’s 16 points and 10 assists showcased his growing confidence as a playmaker. The Jazz dominated the paint, scoring 58 points inside and getting 51 points from their bench, outpacing the Clippers’ reserves.
However, Utah’s struggles from long range (6-of-27 for just 22.2%) and a rocky start proved too much to overcome. Kyle Filipowski, starting in place of Markkanen, had a tough night, finishing with four points on 2-of-13 shooting. Taylor Hendricks, another young starter, contributed five points and two rebounds but battled foul trouble throughout the contest. The Jazz have now dropped six of their last eight games and will need to regroup quickly with a trip to the Bay Area to face the Golden State Warriors looming on the schedule.
On the other side, the Clippers look every bit the Western Conference contender many predicted. Their sixth straight win keeps them surging up the standings, and with Leonard playing at an MVP level—especially in clutch moments—head coach Tyronn Lue has plenty to be excited about. The Clippers will look to keep their streak alive when they host the Boston Celtics on Saturday.
For Utah, the game was a testament to resilience and the emergence of young talent, even in defeat. As the Jazz continue to navigate injuries and absences, performances like those from Anderson, Sensabaugh, Williams, and Collier offer hope for brighter days ahead. But as Thursday night proved, sometimes a superstar like Leonard is simply unstoppable.
The Jazz will aim to bounce back against the Warriors, while the Clippers, riding high on Leonard’s heroics, prepare for their next challenge. For now, all eyes remain on the Western Conference race—and on the stars who shape it, night after night.
