Jazz Vs. Clippers: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports game night as the Utah Jazz face the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Jazz are still in pursuit of their first home win of the season after falling to the Phoenix Suns last night 106-95. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers are undefeated on the road with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets to begin the season.

Follow this page for updates throughout the night including pregame availability, starting lineups, and quarter by quarter updates.

The @UtahJazz are looking for a fresh start in 2021 against the @LAClippers. #TakeNote https://t.co/bJgtrJzUCU

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2021

Pregame Availability

Donovan Mitchell has struggled mightily to open the season offensively. The guard is shooting just 34 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three through the team’s first four games.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder said even though Mitchell has proven himself as a scorer on the highest levels of the sport, he’s not beyond introspection when working through a slump.

“He’s grown and evolved as a player, but there’s always opportunities to look at how you’re playing and figure out the things that you can do to improve your play,” Snyder said. ” I don’t think that’s any different. So, we’ll continue to coach him and he’ll continue to work. That’ll be the process.”

The team has been light on both practice time and shoot around opportunities this season. With daily testing and travel, finding opportunities to gather as a team are limited. On back to backs, it becomes even more difficult.

“As a general rule on the back to backs, you don’t really try to get fresh legs,” Snyder said. “More rest, more sleep. And, a different type of preparation.”

Tonight is the first of three home game back to back series for the Jazz through the first half of the season. The Jazz will host the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks on January 26 and 27. Then, the team will host the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat on February 12 and 13.

Starting Lineups

Starting lineups for the @UtahJazz and the ⁦@LAClippers⁩. pic.twitter.com/PVBqZiyDqK

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 2, 2021

First Quarter

Better start for the Jazz than they have seen in any of the last three games. Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic both hit their first shots which is a good sign for the game.

Bogdanovic specifically has been aggressively looking for his shot. That’s important since he brings value as a floor spacer even if he isn’t making shots.

Timeout from Quin Snyder after a three-point shot from Serge Ibaka trims the Jazz lead to 1.

Jazz up 11-10, but off to a much better start than they have had in the last three games.

6:55 left in the game. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RwXypEKKbI

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

The Jazz have three threes in the first 10 minutes of the game. They simply weren’t generating good looks against Phoenix and it prevented the offensive from ever really getting going.

One of the things that the Jazz are doing differently is running the floor, and it has compressed the Clippers defense, leading to open transition threes.

Timeout by the @LAClippers after the Jazz built a 21-15 lead.

The @UtahJazz are getting easy looks from three which they didn't see at all against the Suns.

Jazz are 3-5 from deep to start the game. 2:30 left in the 1st.#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/DzwwAfRAsv

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

The Jazz offense really started to click in the second half of the first quarter, largely thanks to Mike Conley’s play with the second unit. He’s got 12 points in the first quarter.

Good defensive quarter from the Jazz also. They held the Clippers to just 19 points, largely by protecting the rim and the Clippers having a bad shooting night from Paul George who is 0-4 to start the game.

At the end of the first quarter the @UtahJazz lead the @LAClippers 31-19.

Jazz have 5 made threes, and Mike Conley leads all scorers with 12 points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/PIXgJrwKbJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

Second Quarter

The Jazz opened the quarter with back to back made threes to build an 18 point lead. Jazz haven’t had that type of cushion to work with since the Blazers game to start the season.

Clippers are forced to push as a result and can’t play their usual game. The Jazz get to play a little freer running the floor and taking a few more high upside shots.

Mountain Mike in rhythm. 🏔🎶 #TakeNote #LACatUTA https://t.co/EPcflv7PjL

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

The Clippers have been sparked by aggressive defense from Patrick Beverly in the second quarter and it’s flustered the Jazz less experienced playmakers.

Conley doesn’t struggle with the aggressive stuns from Beverly, but both Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson have been suckered into deflected passes or charging fouls.

Mitchell hasn’t had a good second quarter in general.

Timeout from the @UtahJazz as the @LAClippers have trimmed the Jazz once time 18 point lead to just 10 with 4:37 left in the half.

Clippers defense has clicked in in the second quarter and the Jazz have struggled a bit. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/mLSn5AeOra

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

The Clippers closed the Jazz 18 point lead to just one on a Kawhi Leonard drive, but to the Jazz credit they didn’t fold.

Mitchell rebounded from his bad second quarter with a strong final two minutes drawing fouls, hitting a three, and finding Conley for another open three to give him an 18 point first half.

The Jazz closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run and lead by nine at the break.

Despite allowing an 18 point lead to drop to 1, the @UtahJazz finished the half with a strong two minutes push to rebuild the lead to 9.

Mike Conley was brilliant, and had 18 points in the first half.

Jazz up 51-42 over the Clippers. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Vlhn3sGcGr

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

Third Quarter

After closing the first half on an 8-0 run, the Jazz open the second half on a 9-0 run thanks to threes from Mitchell, Conley, and Royce O’Neale.

17-0 from the Jazz to rebuild an 18 point lead after it dropped to one in the second quarter.

The @utahjazz rebuild their lead to 18 after the Clippers cut it to 1 in the second quarter.

Jazz open the third quarter with three threes, and lead 60-42.

Makes it a 17-0 from the Jazz to bookend halftime. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/MXrqBqApQj

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

Conley continues to be the forgotten man by the Clippers defense as he seemingly is wide open anytime he wants to shoot.

He’s up to 26 points on 6-11 shooting from deep. The Jazz need to get a big night from one of Conley, Bogdanovic, or Clarkson every night in addition to what they get from Mitchell and Gobert, Conley has been the guy tonight.

Mike Conley hits ANOTHER three and he's got 26 points in the game on 6-11 from deep.

Jazz up 67-47 with 6:36 left in the quarter. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

The Jazz closed the quarter well, which has been key int his game. They’ve opened and closed quarters well which has given them enough leeway for stretches to watch their lead fluctuate without panicking.

The pick and roll play between Favors and Ingles has been terrific and carried the Jazz to a big lead entering the fourth quarter.

The @utahjazz close the third quarter well and lead the Clippers 84-65.

The Clippers are shooting just 32% from the floor while the Jazz are 47% from the floor and 41% from three. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/7mQNrXvWxl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

Fourth Quarter

The fourth quarter has belonged to the Clippers who trimmed the Jazz lead to just 4 after three free-throws from Nic Batum.

The Clippers found a groove offensively for the first time tonight and the jazz are hanging on fir dear life.

A Paul George three drops the Jazz lead to just 1.

The Jazz once again answer the Clippers run and a three-pointer by Conley off a great pass from Mitchell has the Jazz up six with 90 seconds left in the game.

Exception pass from Donovan Mitchell to find Mike Conley for an open corner three, his seventh of the game to rebuild the @UtahJazz lead to 6.

Conley has 29 points, Jazz lead 100-94 with 1:48 left. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021

Gobert finishes the layup with fellow countryman Batum draped all over him, and the Jazz are going to hand the Clippers their first road loss of the season.

The Jazz win 106-100. Big night from Conley.

The @utahjazz survive a few furious @LAClippers comebacks and win their first home game of the year 106-100.

Mike Conley leads the Jazz with 33 points on 11-20 shooting.

Big win for the @UtahJazz. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RmccZYBxOc

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2021