The Los Angeles Clippers continue to surge in the Western Conference, and Kris Dunn's defense has been a key piece of the puzzle.
The Los Angeles Clippers have turned their season around in remarkable fashion, going from a dismal 6-21 start to sitting at 22-24 after their 115-103 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
While Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have rightfully grabbed most of the headlines during this stretch, there's another player who has quietly become essential to this team's success.
Dunn's Big Night Against Utah
Kris Dunn put together one of his best performances of the season against the Jazz, scoring 14 points while recording a season-high five steals that helped flip the game in Los Angeles' favor.
After Utah led 54-53 at halftime, Dunn took over in the third quarter with two steals that turned into easy layups, sparking a 10-2 run that gave the Clippers a lead they would never relinquish.
Leonard was quick to praise Dunn after the game, calling him a vital part of the team's defensive identity.
"He's a tremendous piece for us, comes in every night guarding the best player, doing anything he can to slow them down, and tonight he had 5 steals," Leonard said. "He's making his open shots when he gets them and he's been playing great."
Head coach Tyronn Lue went even further with his praise, comparing Dunn to an elite football player when describing his defensive mentality.
"He's like a shutdown corner. He wants that responsibility," Lue said. "He takes on the challenge every single night. Just seeing how he can guard up, he can guard down, it doesn't matter. But he definitely deserves to be on the All-Defensive Team."
A Perfect Fit Since Arriving in 2024
When the Clippers acquired Dunn in a sign-and-trade with Utah in July 2024, sending Russell Westbrook to the Jazz, the front office knew exactly what they were getting.
President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank called Dunn a "relentless point-of-attack defender" at the time of the deal, and that's exactly what he's been since putting on a Clippers jersey.
The 31-year-old guard has carved out a role as the team's defensive stopper, taking on the toughest backcourt assignments every night so that Leonard and Harden can conserve energy for the offensive end.
This season, Dunn is averaging 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game while playing nearly 27 minutes a night.
The Bigger Picture
The Clippers have been nothing short of dominant since December 20, posting a 16-3 record that stands as the best mark in the entire NBA over that stretch.
Kawhi Leonard has been playing at an MVP level during this run, averaging 27.9 points per game while leading the league in steals and free throw percentage, and Harden added 16 points and 10 assists against Utah.
But the defense has been the real story of this turnaround, and Dunn has been at the heart of it.
Against the Jazz (15-33), the Clippers forced 17 turnovers that led to 23 points, with Dunn and Harden combining for nine steals between them.
Leonard has now scored 20 or more points in 25 consecutive games, but he knows that defensive players like Dunn are what separates good teams from great ones.
Los Angeles heads to Denver on Friday looking to keep the momentum rolling.