Nice surprise at the start of the season in the Western Conference, the Jazz remained on five defeats in a row before receiving the Clippers tonight. Something to seriously get into the ranks…
But, thanks to an excellent Jordan Clarkson (33 points, season record), Utah found the way forward, winning against the Clippers in “back to back” after their victory the day before in Portland (125-112) .
Beaten in Los Angeles a big week ago, the Jazz were able to count on a great collective effort to get their revenge on the Clippers. In addition to Jordan Clarkson, who is reaching his thirties for the first time in his season, Utah has seen its five major evolve in tune with Lauri Markkanen (23 points, 9 rebounds) and Collin Sexton (21 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds but 6 stray bullets ) who have darkened the stats sheet, not to mention Jarred Vanderbilt (14 points, 12 rebounds) in double-double or a solid Kelly Olynyk (12 points, 7 rebounds).
Conversely, the Clippers were still deprived of too many players to truly compete. In addition to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the local Arlesians, Los Angeles did not have Norman Powell, their man in form the day before. Ty Lue’s troop once again fought well, hanging on until the start of the last quarter, but the Californians simply lacked the juice to hold on over the length.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Jazz accelerate in the second half. If the Clippers managed to come back to 3 small points from the Jazz in the last quarter, thanks to a 3-point action from Moussa Diabaté, Utah was able to place its acceleration wisely in the second half. To tell the truth, the latter took place in two stages: on a rather scathing 22-6 in the third, and on a 15-4 in the last quarter. Worn by Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Jazz were able to finish strong to end their black series!
– The Clippers with the means at hand. Victorious over a direct competitor to the Blazers, the Clippers again lost ground to another rival the next day in Utah. In their defense, it must be recognized that the Clippers were still very limited in rotation, deprived this time of Norman Powell, heroic in Portland. With Amir Coffey and Terance Mann in the five, Los Angeles ran out of offensive options knowing that the trident of regular starters (Zubac, Morris and Jackson) was clearly tired.
– Moussa Diabaté confirms. Appearing on the big stage the day before in Portland, for a match on TNT, after being recalled from G-League, the tricolor rookie was again very good at Ivica Zubac’s relay, bringing his team close at the start of the fourth quarter. With his constant energy, he signed his best game in the NBA with 11 points and 8 rebounds (his team’s best total) in 16 minutes. What to settle permanently in the rotation of Ty Lue, at least for the weeks to come?
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jordan Clarkson. After a game with 8 points at 3/15 on shots (but 9 assists and 6 rebounds), he was keen to bounce back. That’s what he did by simply making his best game of the season, up to 33 points. At 10/18 on shots including 5/9 from 3-pointers, Jordan Clarkson played clean to revive his team in the second half.
✅ The Vanderbilt–Markkanen duo. If Markkanen started with a bang with 10 of the Jazz’s first 12 points for 15 points in the first half, Vanderbilt took over after the return from the locker room. Cover in the first half, “Vando” meanwhile scored 10 of his 14 points in the last quarter, to put the cover back on the Clippers definitively. In the end, the two interiors combine 37 points and 21 rebounds, with an excellent 14/21 on shots.
✅ John Wall. On the bench the day before in Portland, John Wall was fresh and ready to rush into the pile in Utah. With 26 points and 5 assists, he managed his best game of the season, inviting himself to the penalty line more often than in turn (12/13). Only problem, he tore at 3-points (0/5), his eternal Achilles heel.
⛔️ Marcus Morris. Already next to the plate against Portland, the veteran interior again experienced a very complicated game in Utah, finishing with 10 points and 5 rebounds, 3/11 on shots only. On his last three outings, Marcus Morris runs at a small 11/38, or 29% success.
THE FOLLOWING
LA Clippers (13-10): reception of the Kings on Saturday.
Utah (13-11): reception of the Pacers on Friday.
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