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

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

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, is defended by Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

Kelvin Kuo/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Clippers placed an end to the Utah Jazz’s nine-game winning streak by beating the group with the NBA’s finest document 116-112 at Staples Center on Friday.

Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard racked up a team-high 29 points, as well as books Lou Williams (19 points) as well asMarcus Morris Sr (17) integrated for 36 even more off the bench.

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, whose initial points featured 7:12 left in the 2nd quarter, do with a team-high 35 after racking up 29 in the 2nd fifty percent.

L.A. led by as lots of as 15 in the initial fifty percent, yet the Jazz resisted as well as took a four-point lead off back-to-back three-pointers from Bojan Bogdanovic as well as Mitchell in the 3rd.

However, Leonard racked up 10 points in the last 5 mins of the 3rd to offer L.A. a 79-75 introduce the 4th, as well as the Clippers utilized a 13-2 run in the 4th to retreat late after a set of three-pointers from Patrick Beverley.

Mitchell racked up 10 points in the last:35 to maintain the Jazz active, yet the Clippers struck sufficient totally free tosses down the stretch to secure the win.

The 22-9 Clippers have actually won 5 of their last 6, with the single exemption a 114-96 loss to Utah onWednesday The Jazz still possess the organization’s finest document at 24-6 as well as have actually won 20 of their previous 22 video games.

(*29 *) Performances

Jazz G Donovan Mitchell: 35 points, 5 aids, 3 takes

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

Jazz F Bojan Bogdanovic: 23 points

Jazz G Jordan Clarkson: 19 points, 2 takes

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

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

Clippers G Lou Williams: 19 points

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

Leonard in the third, Beverley in the fourth as well as Both in Final Seconds Propel Clips to Win

Utah fell back by 15 in the initial fifty percent yet took a four-point lead in the 3rd quarter after Mitchell as well as his colleagues started to warm up from the area.

The obligation got on L.A. to punch back, as well as it did many thanks greatly to Leonard in the 3rd.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP controlled from the mid-range with 3 pails in the last 5 mins, as well as he additionally made all 4 of his totally free tosses to help transform a four-point shortage right into a four-point lead by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Leonard came via on the protective end also, hardly obstructing a Joe Ingles three-point effort that would certainly have provided Utah a lead if it had actually entered:

LA Clippers @LAClippers

Game of inches.

@kawhileonard|@FoxSportsWest https://t.co/sjqq3nHcgv

The 4th quarter included a piece de resistance fromPatrick Beverley The point player pierced a 3 off a feed from Paul George to place L.A. up 10:

LA Clippers @LAClippers

PG TO RUB BEVERLEY … GOT IT!

@patbev21|#ClipperNation https://t.co/19mDWgpQh8

Two ownerships later on, he complied with up with one more one. Morris ordered an offending rebound after a first Beverley miss out on from deep, yet the guard obtained a 2nd opportunity as well as capitalized on it with a make this moment to offer L.A. a 13-point side.

Mitchell after that took control of down the stretch, almost eager Utah to success many thanks to his clutch shot-making. The obligation got on the Clippers to make their totally free tosses as well as maintain Utah away.

Leonard as well as Beverley took place to be the gamers fouled in those minutes, as well as they integrated to go 9-of-10 in the last min to guarantee that Utah was never ever down one ownership with the sphere at any kind of factor near completion.

Friday noted an excellent win for the Clippers versus the NBA’s best group. Most especially, this match might have acted as a sneak peek of a legendary playoff collection later on this year in between 2 superb groups that succeed on both ends.

Mitchell Nearly Pulls off Miracle

Utah eventually shed due to the fact that L.A. was much better on the boards, the Jazz missed out on way too many open three-pointers, umpire whistles (or do not have thereof) were not especially in their support as well as the fight of the benches was securely won by the Clippers.

That’s done in enhancement to one more excellent video game from Leonard as well as some clutch capturing from Beverley in the 4th.

However, none of that would certainly have mattered if Mitchell had the ability to carry out his wonder surface, which transformed a video game that looked just about over right into a fascinating one in the last secs.

Utah spent time in the 4th many thanks partly to this effective Mitchell dunk.

utahjazz @utahjazz

offering spida an open lane: a blunder.

@spidadmitchell has 23 points &#x 1f577; https://t.co/HCvAPUaphr

But the Clippers reacted with their abovementioned fourth-quarter run as well as led 107-94 with 2:28 complying with a Beverley 3.

Bojan Bogdanovic responded to with 4 straight indicate reduce the bring about 9.

Mitchell after that began to warm up, striking a set of totally free tosses as well as tearing down a two-pointer. In in between, Leonard struck one totally free toss, so L.A. led 108-102.

The Jazz as well as Clippers each traded a set of totally free tosses, yet Mitchell after that reacted with a cold-blooded 3 to bring Utah within 3.

Leonard reacted with 2 totally free tosses, yet Mitchell once more strike a 3 to currently bring Utah within 2.

utahjazz @utahjazz

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Beverley after that struck one more set from the charity red stripe, yet there were still 10 secs left. This time around, the Clippers’ superb protection compelled Mitchell to take a hard 3 that did not attach, just about finishing the video game.

The Jazz might have shed, yet debt to Mitchell to maintaining this video game active when all really hope appeared shed. It’s a testimony to Utah that it had the ability to linger up until the last secs in spite of running uphill for a lot of the video game. Having a gamer like Mitchell, that can reverse a video game’s story in an immediate, definitely assists issues.

What’s Next?

L.A. will certainly remain in community to hold the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Utah will certainly return residence to hold the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at 9 p.m. in Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena.