Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks to make a pass as Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale and center Rudy Gobert defend in the first quarter of the game at Staples Center on February 19, 2021. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Kawhi Leonard returned from a leg injury to score 29 points as the revitalized Los Angeles Clippers beat the NBA-leading Utah Jazz in the second of a two-game set on Friday in Los Angeles.
With both Leonard and Paul George back in the lineup after sitting out with injuries, the Clippers held on to beat the Utah Jazz 116-112 to snap the team’s nine-game winning streak.
29 points for Kawhi power the @LAClippers at Staples Center. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/p225nl7dbu
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2021
Leonard returned after a three-game absence due to a bruised leg, George missed seven-games with a sore toe. Both couldn’t play in the Clippers’ 114-96 home loss on Wednesday to the red-hot Jazz.
The Jazz’s trademark during their win streak has been finding different ways to get the job done, but that didn’t matter on Friday as they were outrebounded by the Clippers 45-38.
The Clippers had five players in double figures, including both Leonard and George, who scored 15 as they beat the Jazz for the first time this season. Lou Williams added 19 points, Patrick Beverley had 17 and Marcus Morris chipped in 17 off the bench for the Clippers.
Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points, Bojan Bogdanovic added 23 points, and reserve Jordan Clarkson contributed 19. Mike Conley scored 16 points for Utah, who lost for just the second time in 22 contests.