Kawhi Leonard credited aggressiveness and team confidence after scoring 45 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 118-101 victory over the Utah Jazz at Intuit Dome on Thursday night. The win extended Los Angeles’ winning streak to a season-best six games.
“I just stayed aggressive. Teammates wanted me to keep shooting, stayed aggressive, found a way to get my shot up and it fell for me,” Leonard said when asked how he found another tackle late in the game.
Leonard described his current scoring trajectory as the most productive of his career. “It’s very rewarding. If you work at it, it doesn’t always show up the next day or in a month. It could come in two years. So you have to keep at it every day and have faith and, you know, trust God in yourself and everything will unfold,” he explained.
The Clippers overcame a 21-point lead in the first quarter, which disappeared shortly after Utah fell behind the bench score and had 58 points in the paint. Leonard’s fourth-quarter surge, including four three-pointers, matched Utah’s performance and secured the victory.
Regarding the team’s performance down the stretch, Leonard said, “Just keep fighting. We were up 15 to 20 points earlier. They fought back, got a lead and we just kept fighting. We ended up closing it out with a 17-point lead and won the game.”
James Harden contributed 20 points and seven assists, while Nicolas Batum added 14 points and four 3-pointers. The Clippers shot 45 percent from the field and outscored Utah 16-7 in the final minutes.
Leonard also addressed the importance of his teammates’ support in his scoring run. “Teammates wanted me to keep shooting,” he reiterated, emphasizing the team’s role in maintaining the attacking rhythm during crucial stretches.
Utah, playing without Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic, was led by Kyle Anderson’s 22 points off the bench. Brice Sensabaugh added 20, while Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier contributed 18 and 16 points, respectively.
The Clippers return home to host the Boston Celtics on Saturday, while the Jazz continue their road trip at the Golden State Warriors. Leonard’s comments highlight both his personal discipline and the Clippers’ collective effort as the team continues to improve midway through the season.
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