Kawhi and Harden spark a Clippers revival few saw coming

The Clippers’ story right now is simply unbelievable. A 6–18 start left them dead in the water, seemingly buried in an ultra-competitive Western Conference where losses hurt badly and wins barely move the needle. But the Los Angeles team, battling against all odds, arrived in Salt Lake City to face a theoretically inferior opponent in the Jazz with the aim of keeping the momentum going. Their record was 15–3 over the past 18 games, pushing them ever closer to .500. They were already sitting in play-in territory, though the ambition was bigger for a roster that may be aging in places but is far from short on talent. The former was winning out, and the plain truth was that the Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA – spectacular, wholly unexpected and fully deserved after that disastrous opening stretch.

Accusations against the organization for allegedly paying under-the-table bonuses to Kawhi Leonard, in a supposed closed-door pact between the player’s camp and co-founder and owner Steve Ballmer, along with the strange dismissal of Chris Paul in what would be his final season as a professional, had faded into the background. James Harden, who has reached the playoffs in every single one of his NBA seasons, is clearly determined to do so again and is playing at a superlative level to make that happen despite being 36. Kawhi, meanwhile, is averaging more than 28 points a night, asserting himself on both ends of the floor and showing his best version since his Raptors days. A minor injury briefly caused widespread panic, but his absence was minimal – three games, with the Clippers going 2–1 – and his return sparked a win over the Lakers in the LA derby, followed by a comfortable victory against the Nets.

Across the floor were the Jazz, one of those teams that effectively wrote off the season before it even began. With no real incentive, the Utah franchise drifts along, living off the remnants of the project once built around Donovan Mitchell – now with the Cavaliers – and Rudy Gobert – now with the Timberwolves. Directionless, they are left watching an injured Lauri Markkanen, out since January 12 although there was a chance he might play against the Clippers, and a sidelined Keyonte George, whose absence was confirmed. Both situations encapsulate an organization stuck in inertia, perhaps by design under Danny Ainge, who left the Celtics through the back door only to repeat the act in Utah: waiting. It is a bleak strategy for a team that has not reached the playoffs since 2022 – and looks unlikely to do so anytime soon.

In the end, the win went to the team it was always meant for. The Clippers claimed a 115–103 victory after a dreadful start, trailing 29–18 at the end of the first quarter, before outscoring their opponents 71–45 over the next 24 minutes. They built a lead of as many as 21 points and cruised through the closing stages. Six visiting players reached double figures, led by Kawhi’s 21 points – his 25th straight game with 20 or more – along with seven rebounds and four assists. Harden added 16 points, three rebounds, 10 assists and four steals. For the Jazz, with veteran Kevin Love starting and finishing with three points and 11 rebounds, the absence of both Keyonte and Markkanen drastically limited their chances. The collective effort was admirable, and Ace Bailey’s 20 points made him the team’s leading scorer. But the victory belonged to the Clippers, simply because they are better – than Utah and, right now, than almost everyone else. A legendary resurrection.

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