James Harden achieved a triple-double, while Terance Mann contributed 19 points, propelling the Los Angeles Clippers to a decisive 131-102 victory over the Utah Jazz who were playing as visitors on Friday.

Harden’s stat line included 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists, as the Clippers, now 2-1 without Kawhi Leonard due to a knee injury, showcased their resilience this week.

Adding to the scoring efforts, Norman Powell of Los Angeles registered 18 points, Russell Westbrook chipped in 17, and Ivica Zubac contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Paul George managed to score 14 points in just 21 minutes of play.

With this victory, the Clippers (49-28) have secured their fifth win in the last six games and solidified their fourth-place standing in the Western Conference, only having five regular-season games left, with four to be played at home.

Talen Horton-Tucker led the scoring for the struggling Jazz (29-48) with 17 points, amidst their ongoing struggle, having achieved only one win in the last 15 games. Omer Yurtseven, Collin Sexton, and Darius Bazley each contributed 12 points for the Jazz, who managed a shooting percentage of just 38.5% from the field.

Notably, several key players for the Jazz, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson, were sidelined due to various injuries. As a result, the team had to rely on three rookies in the starting lineup: Brice Sensabaugh, Taylor Hendricks, and Keyonte George, who combined for 15 points.

The Clippers wasted no time in establishing their dominance, sprinting to a 17-2 lead within the first 3 1/2 minutes of the game. Their lead extended to 24-4 with 7:02 remaining in the opening quarter.

Entering the second quarter with a 25-point advantage, the Clippers further widened the gap, reaching a lead of over 30 points at 61-29 following a 3-pointer by Daniel Theis with 5:59 left in the first half.

The Clippers showcased their dominance in the first half by shooting an impressive 68.3% from the field, while the Jazz struggled with a mere 28% shooting efficiency. Los Angeles maintained a 56% shooting accuracy throughout the game, compared with Utah’s final shooting percentage of 38.5%.

Despite the Jazz making a brief resurgence to pull within 99-79 with 1:02 left in the third quarter, the Clippers quickly reasserted their control early in the fourth quarter, securing the win with a strong performance from their bench players.

Now holding a 2-1 advantage against Utah this season, the Clippers are set to face off against them once more on April 12.