No comeback allowed! Kawhi scores 45, Harden adds 20, Kyle nets 22 in vain as Clippers crush depleted Jazz

On January 2nd, in an NBA regular season game, the Clippers played at home against the Jazz. The Jazz were missing almost all their starters, and Kyle took charge offensively. Leonard kept up his strong showing for the Clippers, whereas Lopez was cold from three, making only 1 out of 12 attempts for 3 points. Ultimately, after a final quarter battle, the Clippers won 118-101 over the Jazz.

Statistical summary:

Jazz: Saben Lee 20 points, Collier 16 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, Kyle 22 points, 8 rebounds, Williams 18 points

Clippers: Leonard 45 points, 7 rebounds, Harden 20 points, 7 assists, Collins 8 points, 11 rebounds, Batum 14 points, Jones 10 points, Sanders 10 points

Game progression:

At the start of the first quarter, the Clippers launched an impressive 16-0 run, leaving the Jazz scoreless for over five minutes. Mihailiuk finally scored on a dunk, followed by Collier hitting an open three-pointer, but the Clippers maintained momentum with another 10-0 run, extending the lead to over 20 points. Kyle responded with a 2+1 play to stop the bleeding. Then the Jazz found their rhythm and went on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit. After the first quarter, the Clippers led 31-17, a 14-point advantage.

In the second quarter, both teams were closely matched early on, with the score rising back and forth. Two minutes in, the Jazz suddenly exploded with a 9-0 run to narrow the gap to just 5 points, but Leonard scored 5 straight points to stabilize the situation. The Jazz then went on an 8-2 run to close in again, but Batum’s three-pointer stopped their momentum. The Jazz kept fighting to chip away at the Clippers’ lead. Near the end of the quarter, the Jazz outscored the Clippers 6-3, and at halftime, the Clippers led narrowly 53-50.

In the third quarter, the teams remained neck and neck, with the Jazz quickly tying the game at 58-all, bringing both sides back to even. The score was tied again at 62, 71, and 75 points as both teams traded baskets and leads. Notably, Lopez struggled this game, hitting his first three-pointer of the match only in this quarter, finishing 1 of 12 from deep. At the end of three quarters, the Clippers held a slim 82-81 lead.

In the final quarter, the battle continued to be tight, with the margin difficult to extend. The teams were tied at 90-all when Sanders hit a three-pointer, and Collier answered with a floater. Then the Clippers suddenly surged with a 4-2 run, quickly pushing the lead into double digits. The Jazz chased hard but couldn’t reduce the gap for a long time. With three minutes left, the Clippers led by 15 points, effectively sealing the game. The final score was 118-101 in favor of the Clippers.

Starting lineups:

Jazz: Mihailiuk, Hendricks, Filipowski, Saben Lee, Collier

Clippers: Leonard, Collins, Lopez, Dunn, Harden