Kawhi Leonard, red-hot Clippers beat Jazz to close in on .500 record

SALT LAKE CITY — The Clippers’ abysmal start to the season keeps getting a little smaller in their rear-view mirror.

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, James Harden had 16 points and 10 assists, and the red-hot Clippers beat the Utah Jazz, 115-103, on Tuesday night for their ninth win in 10 games.

Kris Dunn added 14 points and a season-best five steals for the Clippers (22-24), who have the best record in the NBA since Christmas. They have won 16 of their past 19 games – immediately after going 3-16 in their previous 19.

The Clippers took control during a 10-2 run in the third quarter powered powered by Dunn’s two steals and layups, along with a 3-pointer that made it 73-61. The Clippers extended the lead to 19 later in the quarter, going ahead 84-65 after Harden and Brook Lopez drained back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 9-0 run as they avenged an ugly season-opening loss to the Jazz on the same court.

Utah’s Lauri Markkanen returned after missing seven games due to illness to score 19 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Ace Bailey scored 20 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 13, but the Jazz (15-32) lost for the seventh time in their past eight games. It was just the second time in the last 30 games that Utah failed to reach 100 points.

With Leonard on the court, the Clippers are 14-2 in their last 16 games and have won seven straight.

Leonard has scored at least 20 points in 25 consecutive games. He joins Bob McAdoo, World B. Free and Blake Griffin as the only players in franchise history with such a streak.

The Jazz were missing their top two playmakers in Jusuf Nurkic (illness), who has had three straight triple-doubles, and Keyonte George (rest), who has averaged 28.8 points in the last five games.

Utah came out of the gates blistering hot on offense. The Jazz made four field goals on their first four possessions and started 5-of-5 from the field. Bailey led the way with three baskets and helped Utah charge to a 15-4 lead.

The Clippers trimmed the deficit to a basket, closing to within 19-17 on a floater from Harden. Utah closed out the first quarter with a 10-1 run, holding the Clippers without a basket for three minutes. Walter Clayton Jr. buried a 3-pointer to cap the run and give the Jazz a 29-18 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Clippers erased a second double-digit deficit behind a 14-3 run to open the second quarter and took a 33-31 lead on Leonard’s pull-up jumper. Utah went four minutes without a field goal before Bailey ended the drought with a 3-pointer.

The Clippers’ defense tightened and forced 10 steals and several shot-clock violations.

Utah committed 17 turnovers, which led directly to 23 Clipper points. Although the Clippers play at the league’s slowest pace, they still topped the Jazz in fast-break points 12-8.

UP NEXT

The Clippers play at the Denver Nuggets on Friday at 6 p.m. PT.

More to come on this story.