Kawhi Leonard scores season-high 41 as Clippers beat Jazz

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard shoots over Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson during the second half on Friday night in Salt Lake City. Leonard scored a season-high 41 points and went 6 for 8 from 3-point range to lead the Clippers to a 117-103 win. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

UPDATED: December 8, 2023 at 11:15 p.m.

Clippers star Paul George drives with the ball as Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio defends during the first half on Friday night in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

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Clippers star Paul George drives with the ball as Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio defends during the first half on Friday night in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

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By JOHN COON The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — The Klaw was in the zone.

Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 41 points and the Clippers beat Utah, 117-103, on Friday night to snap an 11-game road losing streak against the Jazz.

Leonard made a season-high 14 field goals on 23 attempts, including a 6-for-8 showing from 3-point range, and made all seven of his free-throw attempts. He also had five rebounds and five assists.

“I thought he had a good rhythm and his teammates kept looking for him and kept going through him,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He was able to produce.”

Paul George added 20 points and six steals, and Ivica Zubac had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers moved over .500 at 11-10. James Harden had 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting to go with seven rebounds and eight assists.

The Clippers shot 15 for 34 (44%) from 3-point range.

John Collins led Utah with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Talen Horton-Tucker added 16 points and five assists, Keyonte George chipped in 15 points and Walker Kessler had 12 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup.

The Jazz trailed by double digits for a large chunk of the second half before scoring on seven straight possessions to spark a rally early in the fourth quarter. Collins led the charge with three baskets, including back-to-back dunks. Utah closed to within 99-93 on Sexton’s jumper with 6:56 left, capping an 18-7 run.

That’s as close as the Jazz got because Leonard slammed the door on them. He made back-to-back baskets and assisted on another to fuel a 12-0 run that gave the Clippers a 111-93 lead with 4:48 remaining.

“We got stops and we made shots,” Leonard said. “Our defense kept us going. We had a steady group and a good mindset to keep moving.”

Leonard put the Clippers in a good spot with a hot start that foreshadowed his dominance over four quarters. He made his first five shots from the field, scoring 14 points, to give the visitors a 24-13 lead. Buoyed by Leonard’s offensive efficiency, the Clippers knocked down 62% of their field goal attempts in the first quarter.

“Our last two games we had been fighting from behind in those first quarters,” Leonard said. “You got to jump on teams early in their home building and (the Jazz) play very well at home. That was able to get us a little breathing room throughout the whole game.”

The Jazz never led after the first quarter and struggled with inconsistency on offense.

“A lot of shots weren’t falling,” Collins said. “We felt like we generated a lot of good, open shots and a lot of those weren’t falling either.”

Jazz coach Will Hardy praised his team’s effort but lamented the hole they dug for themselves, down 13 points by halftime.

“The team tonight played pretty hard,” Hardy said. “On the offensive side of the ball we tried to play together, we tried to execute, and ultimately struggled to make shots. It put us behind the curve.”