It could be untimely to label a recreation in early February as a “must win,” however the urgency, if not the execution, was there for the Clippers from the second they stepped onto the Intuit Dome court docket Saturday night time in opposition to the struggling Utah Jazz.
Going through an undermanned opponent with the second-worst file within the Western Convention coming off an extra time loss lower than 24 hours earlier, the Clippers ended a three-game skid with a 130-110 victory that moved it to inside a half recreation of sixth-place Minnesota. It additionally gave the Clippers some much-needed momentum for Wednesday’s matchup with Memphis earlier than embarking on an eight-game journey, their longest of the season, beginning Thursday in Utah.
The Clippers (29-23) may ailing afford to lose a contest wherein it was favored by 17½ factors, particularly after the rival Lakers, enjoying with out LeBron James, beat Indiana earlier within the day to enhance to 31-19 and transfer into fourth place within the West with their eleventh win in 13 video games.
Ivica Zubac had 26 factors and 15 rebounds and James Harden completed with 23 factors and 17 assists. Norman Powell, enjoying in his 600th regular-season recreation, scored 26 factors, and Amir Coffey added 17 factors.
Kawhi Leonard, who performed 33 minutes in opposition to the Pacers — probably the most the two-time NBA Finals MVP has logged since returning to the lineup Jan. 4 — had 10 factors in 31 minutes.
Jordan Clarkson scored the primary 11 factors for Utah (12-39), which suffered its third loss to the Clippers in three conferences this season, all in L.A. He completed with a team-high 24. The Jazz hit seven of their first 9 three-pointers to construct an early 12-point lead. Three straight baskets by Zubac pulled the Clippers inside 4 they usually went forward for the primary time 29-28 on Drew Eubanks’ alley-oop jam off a move from Harden with 37 seconds left within the first quarter.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 13 factors within the second quarter however closed the half with a flourish and took a 58-56 halftime lead. The lead grew to eight getting into the fourth quarter, and Coffey iced the win by swishing a nook three-pointer to offer the Clippers a 118-103 lead with 2:58 left.
Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard, left, drives previous Utah guard Johnny Juzang throughout the first half Saturday.
(Jae C. Hong / Related Press)
Veteran guard Bogdan Bogdanovic didn’t play as he’s nonetheless returning to recreation situation after sitting out six video games due to private causes earlier than being dealt from Atlanta forward of the commerce deadline.
Eubanks, traded from the Jazz to L.A. final Saturday, sustained a left ankle sprain within the second quarter and didn’t return. He had 4 factors and three rebounds in 5 minutes.
Utah performed with a depleted roster. Cody Williams, who missed the final 9 video games with an ankle sprain, scored two factors in quarter-hour.
