Los Angeles Clippers star Norman Powell scored a season-high 41 points, and James Harden added 32 as the Clippers overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat the Utah Jazz, 120-116, in overtime on Thursday night at Delta Center. With this victory, Los Angeles improved to 31-23 on the season, sitting 6th in the Western Conference.
The Jazz, who fell to 13-41, saw strong performances from rookie Kyle Filipowski and Lauri Markkanen, each scoring 20 points. However, Utah’s 26 turnovers, which led to 20 points for the Clippers, played a pivotal role in the game’s outcome.
Harden was a standout in more than just scoring. He grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and tallied three steals. Despite Utah’s scorching 56.5% shooting from beyond the arc before halftime, including 13 three-pointers, the Clippers rallied late in the second quarter. Powell was critical in this comeback, scoring on eight consecutive possessions, narrowing Utah’s lead to 57-52 before halftime.
The Clippers, who trailed for most of the game, finally surged ahead in the fourth quarter. With Powell tipping in a layup and Harden draining a step-back three, Los Angeles completed an 11-1 run to take a 103-100 lead. Isaiah Collier’s clutch free throws tied the game at 103, forcing overtime.
In overtime, the Clippers never trailed. Powell’s back-to-back baskets put them up 119-114 with just 59 seconds left, providing the necessary cushion to hold off the Jazz’s late push. Despite a valiant effort by Collier and Svi Mykhailiuk, who pulled Utah within one point, Powell sealed the win with his timely scoring.
Ben Simmons, in his Clippers debut, contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Meanwhile, the Jazz were led by Filipowski, who also grabbed 10 rebounds in his career-best outing.
Despite shooting a solid 48.7% from the field and 40% from three-point range, Utah’s inability to handle the ball and the Clippers’ clutch performance in the final moments sealed the Jazz’s fate.
