NBA News Wire
Clippers 102, Jazz 87
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Guard Jamal Crawford scored 27 points and forward Blake Griffin added 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers blew past the Utah Jazz 102-87 on Saturday night at the Staples Center.
The Pacific Division-leading Clippers (34-16) won for the fifth time in their last six games. Utah (16-31) lost for the second time in as many nights and dropped its fourth in the past six outings. The Jazz fell to the Golden State Warriors 95-90 on Friday night at Utah.
Center DeAndre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked three shots and chipped in 10 points for the Clippers. Los Angeles point guard Darren Collison had 11 points and six assists.
Center Enes Kanter paced the Jazz with 23 points and 14 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. Forward Richard Jefferson finished with 19 points and guard Gordon Hayward had 15.
Los Angeles used a third-quarter spurt to pull away from the Jazz as it improved to 20-3 at home. The Clippers also stretched their winning streak over Utah to eight in a row.
The lead changed hands nine times in a sluggish first half as the two clubs creeped to the break tied at 42. Utah managed to shoot just 41 percent from the floor (16 of 39) compared with 51.5 percent (17 of 33) for the Clippers, but the Jazz converted six 3-pointers and Los Angeles failed to hit any. The Clippers also missed nine of their 17 free throws.
Overall, the Clippers shot 51.4 percent from the field (38 of 74) to 35.8 percent (29 of 81) for the Jazz.
Utah led 58-55 midway through the third quarter when the Clippers went on 16-2 run after a dunk by Jordan gave them a 71-60 lead with 1:22 left. Two field goals by Kanter in the final seven minutes of the quarter were the only baskets for the Jazz as the Clippers took a 76-65 heading into the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Coach Doc Rivers is concerned about fatigue hindering the Clippers’ play. The club played eight of nine games on the road and 10 overall in 15 days entering Saturday. The Clippers visit the Denver Nuggets on Monday before hosting the Miami Heat on Wednesday. … Utah C-F Derrick Favors missed his second game with an inflamed right hip and F Jeremy Evans did not make the trip after suffering a hard fall in Friday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. X-rays of Evans’ bruised tailbone were negative, coach Tyrone Corbin said. … The Jazz host the Toronto Raptors on Monday. … This was the second of three meetings between the two clubs. The Clippers won the initial encounter 98-90 at Staples on Dec. 28 when F Blake Griffin went for 40 points and 10 rebounds. Los Angeles visits Utah on March 14.
