Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac drives past Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, center, attempts a layup between Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, and guard Kris Dunn during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, left, speaks to guards Norman Powell, center, and Kris Dunn during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kai Jones, left, tries to steal the ball from Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers star James Harden looks to shoot a free throw during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac looks to shoot as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, scores on a layup as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac looks up at the scoreboard during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler rebounds the ball in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers star James Harden reacts to a Utah Jazz foul during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen attempts a layup in front of Clippers guard Norman Powell, far left, and teammate Kyle Filipowski, right, during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden drives as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Harden scored 24 of his 41 points in the first quarter and the Clippers overwhelmed the Jazz, 144-107. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton drives to the basket as Clippers guard Kris Dunn defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy, right, reacts to a play on the sidelines behind Clippers coach Tyronn Lue during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton reacts after getting fouled during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Norman Powell reacts after hitting his hand during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, center, attempts a shot between Clippers center Mo Bamba, left, and guard Kevin Porter Jr., right, during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, dunks the ball past Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler reacts to an official’s call during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac reacts during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen drives past Clippers guard Kris Dunn during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers star James Harden gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s John Collins, left, reacts as he is fouled while shooting by Clippers guard Norman Powell during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins reacts during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Rehabbing Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, center, watches from the bench during their 144-107 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, left, reacts after being fouled by Clippers guard Amir Coffey during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
The Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George reacts as his shot is blocked by Clippers center Mo Bamba, left, during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, right, and Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., front left, scramble to grab the ball during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers star James Harden reacts after getting hit in the eye during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins looks to pass the ball while laying on the court during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Jordan Miller (11) blocks a shot by Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, right, during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Kris Dunn grabs a rebound during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski drives past Clippers forward Kai Jones during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers star James Harden, left, shoots the ball as Utah Jazz forward John Collins defends during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers forward Kai Jones, left, knocks the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey scores on a layup in front of Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski dunks the ball during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. defends a pass to the Utah Jazz’s John Collins during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac grabs a rebound in front of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey shoots a jumper in front of the Utah Jazz’s Kyle Filipowski (22), Brice Sensabaugh (28) and Johnny Juzang (33) during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson looks up at the scoreboard during the second half of their blowout loss to the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland drives to the basket past the Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson reacts to a Clippers foul during the second half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers star James Harden warms up before their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac walks on the court before their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Clippers star James Harden walks on the court before their game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
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Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/William Liang)
INGLEWOOD — “What up? What up, what up?” Kawhi Leonard said casually, holding a plate of food as he strolled through the Clippers’ locker room.
It’s the question so many have been asking. What’s up with the Clippers’ rehabbing superstar?
Leonard has not played in the team’s first 27 games while he works to overcome inflammation in his right knee. He was on the bench again Monday night as the Clippers rolled over the Utah Jazz, 144-107, to snap a three-game losing streak at the Intuit Dome.
While the answer surrounding Leonard continues to be murky, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue shed some light on the situation. He said there is a chance Leonard could travel with the team for the Clippers’ two-game trip to Dallas later this week.
“That hasn’t been determined yet, so we’ll see going forward after tonight,” Lue said before Monday’s game. “Tomorrow, (we’ll) get a chance to reassess everything and … see what happens.”
The fact that there is any chance the six-time All-Star would join his teammates for his first road game this season indicates a sooner-than-later return, though Lue would not give a concrete timeframe or any further details on Leonard’s long-awaited return.
“I don’t want to say the wrong thing, so I don’t know,” Lue said, adding only that Leonard has progressed very well. “Yep. Progressed very well.”
The team has been tight-lipped about Leonard’s status this season, saying things such as he’s checking the right boxes, or he needs to be 100% before he returns. Lue’s comments were the clearest indication yet that the two-time NBA Finals MVP is inching closer to playing again.
The prospect of having Leonard back didn’t get by James Harden, who said he looks forward to that day.
“I think we’re going to be more excited to have him when he can be in full practice,” Harden said. “We don’t really have contact practices, but we do just full-contact practices in the game. So, he’s inching his way back towards the court and (he can) take his time. Whenever he’s ready, we’re ready for him.”
The Clippers (15-12), who came into the game having played just one game since last Sunday (Dec. 8), didn’t need Leonard to beat the Jazz (5-20) or post their highest-scoring game this season. They had a healthy Harden and Norman Powell.
Harden, who missed the game against the Houston Rockets last Sunday because of a mild groin strain, showed no effects of any lingering discomfort, scoring a game-high 41 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field (7 for 11 from 3-point range). Harden shot 12 for 14 at the free-throw line and had six assists.
It was Harden’s second 40-point game this season, as he became the ninth player in franchise history to have multiple 40-point games in the same season. His first was a 43-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 27.
Powell poured in 29 points, while Ivica Zubac had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the lopsided victory.
“Having that time off was very valuable to get James back healthy with DJ (Derrick Jones Jr.) being out,” Lue said.
Jones is out for another week because of hamstring strain.
Harden worked the shot clock down and closed the first quarter with his fifth 3-point basket – from 29 feet away – to give the Clippers a 44-20 lead. He became the first player to make seven 3-pointers and 11 free throws in one half since the 1996-97 season.
Harden scored 24 points in the opening 12 minutes – second in franchise history behind only Lou Williams’ 27-point third quarter in a January 2018 game against Golden State – and added another 10 in the second quarter to lead the Clippers to an 81-47 halftime advantage.
“He’s a worker,” Lue said of Harden, “and when you’re playing 35, 36 minutes a night, you got to as you get older, which you don’t like hearing me say, but you got to be able to tailor it back a little bit. Don’t overwork yourself because there’s a lot of games, a lot of minutes.
“But he knows his body. He works hard every single day and (we are) just trying to get him to pick his spots where he can cut back and do less because he is playing a lot of minutes in these games and so we just want to make sure he is healthy all the way through, and he’s been doing a good job with that.”
The Clippers’ 81 points in the first half was the most points they had scored in a half since they had 82 against Washington in 2019, showing what a week of rest can do for a team that had been battling injuries.
The Clippers, like several other teams that didn’t advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, enjoyed several days off.
“I like that Cup,” Lue jokingly said. “Shoulda had it a long time ago.”
In a more serious tone, Lue said the layoff was important for the Clippers to get their players healthy as the schedule will ramp up again after the holidays.
“To try to get guys back, it’s been really good for us,” Lue said. “It couldn’t happen at a better time, so we are just using these days to make sure we’re smart, doing more walkthroughs just to make sure we’re covering everything we need to get better at on both sides of the basketball. And then letting our guys recover as far as the injuries and little knick-knack things here and there.”
NOTES
Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, Lauri Markkanen added 17 and Collin Sexton had 15 for the Jazz, who lost their third consecutive game and fell for the eighth game in their last nine contests. … The Clippers shot 63.4% from the field in the first half and 59.8% (49 for 82) for the night.
Rehabbing Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, center, watches from the bench during their 144-107 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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