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 1:23 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

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.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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