Jazz Break Open Game Against Clippers With Big Second Quarter
Mar 18, 2022, 8:14 PM | Updated: 8:25 pm
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz meets his team after a block at the buzzer in Game One of the Western Conference second-round playoff series against the LA Clippers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on June 8, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz broke open their game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 41-point explosive during the second quarter.
The Jazz hosted the Clippers at Vivint Arena on Friday, March 18.
Utah opened the game with a strong start and a 30-20 lead following the first quarter.
The Jazz continued to play well during the final 12 minutes of the first half thanks to an impressive defensive performance and an offensive explosive.
Rudy Gobert with 13pts, 12 reb, 2 blocks at half. Nine of those points came in the final 3:40 of the half.#TakeNote l @KSLSports l #LACvsUTA pic.twitter.com/rgouJg23bZ
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) March 19, 2022
Utah outscored Los Angeles in the second quarter by a palindrome of 41-14.
At the break, Utah owned a massive 71-34 lead. During the first half, the Jazz shot 52.7 percent overall and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. By comparison, the Clippers shot 27.5 percent, including 31.3 percent from distance.
a quick 30-4 run to finish off the first half #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/jV1mguNFE8
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 19, 2022
Four Jazz players reached double figures in scoring and were led by Rudy Gobert’s 13 points. Gobert added 12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
stifletower.jpg https://t.co/btWlATTgXw pic.twitter.com/SBYtgpaJAi
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 19, 2022
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Clippers vs. Jazz
The Jazz currently sit tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the fourth seed in the Western Conference at 43-26.
Due to owning a 2-1 lead in the season series so far this season, the Jazz would own the tiebreaker if the playoff started today.
However, the Mavericks and Jazz will face off one last time during the regular season on March 27 in what could ultimately decide the final season standings.
The Jazz sit just 1.5 games up on the Denver Nuggets for the sixth seed in the West, and could potentially drop into the 3-6 matchup in the playoffs if they are overtaken by both teams.
The Mavericks will face the 76ers in Philadelphia tonight while the Nuggets will play the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
The @utahjazz will be down two starters and four rotation players when they host the @laclippers tonight. #TakeNote https://t.co/pLwbvQ1MNC
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 18, 2022
The Jazz won’t find any sympathy from the Clippers when it comes to injuries this season as LA has been without Kawhi Leonard for the entirety of the season and without Paul George for the last several months.
Leonard has a torn ACL and is expected to miss the remainder of the season while George has returned to light workouts with the team, but a return is unclear.
As it stands, the Clippers sit in the eighth seed in the Western Conference and will need to win a game in the play-in tournament to qualify for the postseason.
In addition to George and Leonard, the Clippers are without Norman Powell is suffered a toe injury shortly after being acquired by the team at the trade deadline.
Utah’s game against Los Angeles is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and The Zone Sports Network.
