Overview
- Los Angeles topped Utah 118-101 to extend its season-best streak to six games and improve to 12-21.
- Leonard finished with 45 points and scored 20 in the fourth quarter, matching the Jazz’s output in the period despite playing with a bloodied nose.
- James Harden added 20 points and Nicolas Batum hit four threes, helping the Clippers pull away after Utah erased a 21-point deficit.
- The Jazz were without Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic, yet briefly led in the third quarter before Leonard closed the game.
- Team and league sources told The Athletic the Clippers are not planning a fire sale and there are no signs Harden wants out; center Ivica Zubac has begun on-court rehab and is expected back around mid-January.