Kawhi Leonard’s 29 Points Help Clippers Snap Jazz’s 9-Game Winning Streak

Kelvin Kuo/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Clippers put an end to the Utah Jazz’s nine-game winning streak by defeating the team with the NBA’s best record 116-112 at Staples Center on Friday.

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 29 points, and reserves Lou Williams (19 points) and Marcus Morris Sr. (17) combined for 36 more off the bench.

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, whose first points came with 7:12 left in the second quarter, finished with a team-high 35 after scoring 29 in the second half.

L.A. led by as many as 15 in the first half, but the Jazz fought back and took a four-point lead off back-to-back three-pointers from Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell in the third.

However, Leonard scored 10 points in the final five minutes of the third to give L.A. a 79-75 lead into the fourth, and the Clippers used a 13-2 run in the fourth to pull away late after a pair of three-pointers from Patrick Beverley.

Mitchell scored 10 points in the final :35 to keep the Jazz alive, but the Clippers hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

The 22-9 Clippers have won five of their last six, with the lone exception a 114-96 loss to Utah on Wednesday. The Jazz still own the league’s best record at 24-6 and have won 20 of their past 22 games.

Notable Performances

Jazz G Donovan Mitchell: 35 points, 5 assists, 3 steals

Jazz C Rudy Gobert: 8 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks

Jazz F Bojan Bogdanovic: 23 points

Jazz G Jordan Clarkson: 19 points, 2 steals

Clippers F Kawhi Leonard: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Clippers F Paul George: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

Clippers G Lou Williams: 19 points

Clippers F Marcus Morris Sr.: 17 points, 7 rebounds

Leonard in the 3rd, Beverley in the 4th and Both in Final Seconds Propel Clips to Win

Utah fell behind by 15 in the first half but took a four-point lead in the third quarter after Mitchell and his teammates began to heat up from the field.

The onus was on L.A. to punch back, and it did thanks largely to Leonard in the third.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP dominated from the mid-range with three buckets in the final five minutes, and he also made all four of his free throws to help turn a four-point deficit into a four-point lead by the end of the third quarter.

Leonard came through on the defensive end as well, barely blocking a Joe Ingles three-point attempt that would have given Utah a lead if it had gone in:

The fourth quarter featured a great performance from Patrick Beverley. The point guard drilled a three off a feed from Paul George to put L.A. up 10:

Two possessions later, he followed up with another one. Morris grabbed an offensive rebound after an initial Beverley miss from deep, but the guard got a second chance and took advantage of it with a make this time to give L.A. a 13-point edge.

Mitchell then took over down the stretch, nearly willing Utah to victory thanks to his clutch shot-making. The onus was on the Clippers to make their free throws and keep Utah at bay.

Leonard and Beverley happened to be the players fouled in those moments, and they combined to go 9-of-10 in the final minute to ensure that Utah was never down one possession with the ball at any point near the end.

Friday marked a great win for the Clippers against the NBA’s hottest team. Most notably, this matchup may have served as a preview of an epic playoff series later this year between two excellent teams who excel on both ends.

Mitchell Nearly Pulls off Miracle

Utah ultimately lost because L.A. was better on the boards, the Jazz missed too many open three-pointers, referee whistles (or lack thereof) were not particularly in their favor and the battle of the benches was firmly won by the Clippers.

That’s all in addition to another great game from Leonard and some clutch shooting from Beverley in the fourth.

However, none of that would have mattered if Mitchell was able to pull off his miracle finish, which turned a game that looked all but over into an interesting one in the final seconds.

Utah hung around in the fourth thanks in part to this powerful Mitchell dunk.

But the Clippers responded with their aforementioned fourth-quarter run and led 107-94 with 2:28 following a Beverley three.

Bojan Bogdanovic answered with four straight points to cut the lead to nine.

Mitchell then started to heat up, hitting a pair of free throws and knocking down a two-pointer. In between, Leonard hit one free throw, so L.A. led 108-102.

The Jazz and Clippers each traded a pair of free throws, but Mitchell then responded with a cold-blooded three to bring Utah within three.

Leonard responded with two free throws, but Mitchell once again hit a three to now bring Utah within two.

Beverley then hit another pair from the charity stripe, but there were still 10 seconds left. This time around, the Clippers’ excellent defense forced Mitchell to take a tough three that did not connect, all but ending the game.

The Jazz may have lost, but credit to Mitchell to keeping this game alive when all hope seemed lost. It’s a testament to Utah that it was able to stick around until the final seconds despite running uphill for most of the game. Having a player like Mitchell, who can turn around a game’s storyline in an instant, certainly helps matters.

What’s Next?

L.A. will stay in town to host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Utah will return home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at 9 p.m. in Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena.