Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Blake Griffin scored a game-high 31
points and Chris Paul recorded a triple-double in the Los Angeles Clippers’
107-101 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Paul, just two days after suffering a left foot sprain, logged 13 points, 12
assists and 10 rebounds for a Clippers squad looking to rebound from Sunday’s
home loss to the Kings.
Los Angeles struggled down the stretch against Sacramento but got some much-
needed production from Jamal Crawford to finish off the Jazz. Crawford played
through a rib injury and scored nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Gordon Hayward paced the Jazz with 27 points, but they fell to 1-3 on the
young season and dropped their 10th straight game against the Clippers. Enes
Kanter donated 17 points and nine boards in a losing cause.
“Lob City” was in full effect late in the second quarter, as DeAndre Jordan
threw down a pair of alley-oops, including one on a halfcourt lob from Paul,
while Griffin tipped in a Crawford miss and added a dunk.
Those string of buckets stretched Los Angeles’ lead to 48-39, and Paul’s 3-
pointer in the final minute of the half gave the Clippers a 56-43 cushion at
the break.
The highlight reel dunks were tough to come by in the third quarter, however,
and Utah pulled even at 62-62 after Hayward sparked a 13-0 run with a pair of
3-pointers.
Rudy Gobert, who was on the business end of one of Jordan’s dunks in the first
half, threw down his own alley-oop slam early in the fourth to give the Jazz
their first lead, 77-75, since the opening minutes, but the hosts took over
from there.
Reggie Bullock countered with a 3-pointer and Crawford converted a three-point
play the next time down to give the Clippers control.
Griffin scored while being fouled with 2:52 remaining. The free throw yielded
a 100-91 advantage, and the Clippers held on the rest of the way.
Game Notes
Paul has 12 career triple-doubles … Crawford eclipsed 15,000 points for his
career … Paul has recorded 40 assists and just three turnovers over the
first four games … Los Angeles visits the Warriors on Wednesday …Utah
hosts Cleveland on Wednesday … Utah’s last win over the Clippers was on
Jan. 17, 2012.
