Utah Jazz thrash the Los Angeles Clippers 103-95 in their own back-yard
Al Jefferson scored a season-high 31 points for the Utah Jazz to help them cruise past the Los Angeles Clippers 103-95.
Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said after the game, "Utah can execute as well as anyone in the league. Al Jefferson did it to us tonight. In the second half our ball movement
and execution was not where it should be. We have to tighten things up."
Gordon Hayward, who looks rejuvenated for the Jazz, finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Deron Williams contributed 16 points off the bench, while
Mehmet Oku had 13 points. Paul Millsap
continued his mid-range shooting display, finishing with 12 points.
Blake Griffin recorded another double-double and scored a team-high 30 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who lost for the second time in seven games. Eric Gordon
ended with 19 points, while DeAndre Jordan registered 14 points and a career-high seven blocks for the Clippers in their 23rd
defeat of the season.
Game Story
Badly needing a win the Jazz controlled every aspect of this one, limiting turnovers, making shots in the third quarter, and playing some tenacious defence. This was an
impressive win for the Jazz.
The Clippers put up a fight in the first half, but were trailing by eight at half time. However, Utah was able to impose their will and blow the game wide open in the
third stanza, in which their lead ballooned by as many as 18 points. Each period for the Clippers saw a different player stepping up on offence.
The opening quarter saw the Clippers ahead by as many as 12-points and settling for a 31-23 lead at the end of first quarter. The
second quarter saw Millsap and Williams working hard to cut down the deficit. Millsap's layup closed the gap to 43-42 with four and a half minutes to go in the second. However, the Clippers maintained a 59-51 lead at half time.
The third quarter was all about Hayward and Jefferson. Both players scored 10 apiece during Utah's dominant third quarter display. Hayward drilled a three to give the
Jazz their first lead of the game. Utah put together an 11-1 run to end the quarter, extending their lead to 81-70. The fourth quarter put the nail on the coffin of the Clippers, as the Jazz
went on a 7-0 run that consisted of three free throws (one by Jefferson, two by Williams).
Although Eric Bledsoe did not play his best, yet he contributed three points and pulled the Clippers to within 81-77, but the Jazz scored the next nine points capped by
Jefferson's jumper to eradicate any hopes of a Clippers comeback.
Deron Williams told reporters, "We started off the game a bit slow, which has been a trend. We were able to come back and get a good victory though."
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