From the moment the Clippers opened the Intuit Dome on New Year’s Day against the Utah Jazz, there was a different kind of energy in the building, like this wasn’t just another Winter League matchup, this was a reset. For me, this was my first ever Clippers game at Intuit Dome, and I’m happy to share that it was an incredible experience from start to finish.
The Jazz arrived shorthanded, missing several key pieces, but anyone who watches basketball long enough knows that adversity doesn’t magically make you dull. It makes games messy, unpredictable. And that’s exactly how this one played out before Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers pulled away for a 118,101 finish.
Jazz Lose To The Los Angeles Clippers on New Years Day 2026
First Quarter, Clippers Open With a Statement (31,17)
Right from the tip, Los Angeles reminded everyone inside Inglewood why they’re always tough to sleep on at home. They came out firing, forcing the Jazz into early isolations and turnovers. The first big sequence came around the 7:05 mark, a hard running 16,0 Clippers run that flipped the scoreboard from a tentative start to a big lead. Utah simply couldn’t catch a break early, missed rotations, sloppy passes, and shots that bounced off the rim while the crowd pumped its fists.
Kawhi Leonard paced the offense with assertive drives and clean perimeter looks, and by the end of the quarter LA led 31,17. You could feel it, this was a team that wanted to control pace, pressure the Jazz into uncomfortable spots, and make every possession count.
Second Quarter, Jazz Fight Back, Clippers Hold Edge (22,33)
The second quarter flipped from runaway to grind for both teams. Utah calmed down, stabilized around the arc, and answered Los Angeles’s early burst with a 29,19 run that showed belief, especially considering the players they were missing. Suddenly it was 50,46 with a minute left before halftime. Jazz guards started finding cutters, and the bench chipped in effort plays that kept them within striking distance.
Still, the Clippers rode depth and balance. James Harden added consistent scoring, finishing the half with 20 points, and Nicolas Batum came alive when it mattered, helping LA stay up 53,50 at the break. The tone of the game shifted from domination to a competitive feel, every possession mattered.
Third Quarter, Lead Changes and Jazz Resilience (29,31)
This is where things got interesting. Utah came out with momentum and punched first, even tying the game and taking a brief 59,58 lead with just over nine minutes left in the quarter. That’s basketball, boom, momentum swings, lead changes, and the Jazz kept clawing.
The Clippers didn’t panic.
Leonard, who had been efficient but controlled in the first half, let the game come to him, probing defenses, creating mismatches, and letting Harden orchestrate when teams collapsed. LA answered Utah’s punches and actually tied it back at 75 around the midway point of the quarter. That seesaw continued as both teams traded buckets, but the Jazz battled like they belonged, never letting the Clippers blow it open despite their early lead.
Fourth Quarter, Kawhi Takes Over and Clippers Close It Out (36,20)
Then came the fourth. Leonard shifted into another gear. He poured in 20 of his 45 total points in this quarter alone, hitting four three pointers in a short stretch and capping an 11,0 run that turned a tight game into a controlling lead for LA.
A thunderous Leonard dunk with about 5:36 left sent the crowd into a frenzy and it was essentially over from there.
What stood out in this final frame wasn’t just the volume, it was the urgency.
Every pass clipped closer to the timeline. Every defensive stop felt purposeful. Harden pushed tempo when he saw mismatches. And even role players like Batum and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser made plays that kept the Jazz from sniffing a comeback.
When the horn sounded, the Clippers walked away with a 118,101 win, a mix of grit, veteran savvy, and sheer talent. Kawhi Leonard’s 45 point night set the tone, Harden’s 20 points kept the offense flowing, and LA’s bench contributed crucial energy.
For the Jazz, their rally showed grit, especially given their flow of absences, but the Clippers’ depth and late game execution highlighted why Los Angeles left the court with the W.
