Clippers Drop Critical Game To Jazz 117-95
- Updated: April 5, 2018
Following a comeback win against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers returned to action Thursday taking on the Utah Jazz. With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance the Clippers needed a victory in this one to keep their chances alive.
Sadly, it was clear from the opening tip that this just wasn’t the Clippers night.
Los Angeles again went with a different starting lineup for this game, it was the team’s NBA leading 35th different starting lineup used this season. That inconsistency may have been what led to the turnover ridden first quarter that saw the Clippers turn the ball over 5 times. Taking care of the ball was a problem for the team all night long in Salt Lake City, as Los Angeles managed to turn it over 16 times by the time the game was all over.
Another issue for the Clippers was fouls. At one point the team had as many fouls as field goals (19). They finished the game with 25.
Few things went right for Los Angeles, trailing by as many as 30 at one point. If there was something positive to take out of the game, it was the play of Austin Rivers. Rivers finished the game with 19 points shooting 6 of 12 from the field. In what was a perfect epitome of the night for Los Angeles, Rivers also led the team in turnovers with 4.
Meanwhile the Jazz had 7 players scoring in double-digits with rookie Donovan Mitchell leading the way with 19 points on the night. Mitchell didn’t just help out by dropping in shots however. The rookie of the year candidate also managed to get 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
Overall this was a disappointing showing for the Clippers in a game that could have kept their playoff hopes alive. Instead it looks like it will dash them as they lost this one 117-95.
Reiterating that this team had as many changes as it did this season, the idea that it was still alive for the playoffs at this point in the season is a testament to a great coaching job by Doc Rivers. They will take on the Denver Nuggets next back at Staples Center but the game likely won’t mean as much as it would’ve had Los Angeles been able to come out on top in this one.
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