Walker Kessler led Walker Kessler the Jazz with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and adding four assists. Lauri Markkanen contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists, displaying the form that earned him a five-year extension. Brice Sensabaugh added 20 points off the bench, while Keyonte George impressed as starting point guard with 16 points, nine assists, and two steals.
The Jazz’s offense was efficient, shooting 55% from the field and recording 38 assists on 48 made baskets. Utah started hot, building a 43-19 lead after the first quarter and finishing the first half with a commanding 78-47 advantage. The team made its first 19 shots in the paint and finished the night with improved defensive intensity, forcing 15 turnovers and holding the Clippers to just over 30% from three-point range.
For the Clippers, Ivica Zubac led with 19 points and seven rebounds. James Harden and Brook Lopez each scored 15 points, while Kawhi Leonard struggled with just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting. Bradley Beal, in his debut for Los Angeles, was on a minutes restriction and scored five points.
Ace Bailey, the Jazz’s fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft, played 20 minutes while recovering from illness and scored his first NBA points on a fastbreak dunk. Taylor Hendricks made a successful return from injury, contributing 13 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The win signals a strong start for the Jazz, who are widely projected to finish near the bottom of the league but showed signs of progress on both ends of the floor. The Clippers, meanwhile, suffered their most lopsided season-opening defeat in 17 years.
Looking ahead, the LA Clippers will host the Phoenix Suns on Friday, while the Utah Jazz travel to face the Sacramento Kings.
For full box scores and video highlights, visit Jazz 129-108 Clippers (Oct 22, 2025) Game Recap and follow the latest NBA updates via AP NBA.