LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Kawhi Leonard still working his way and Paul George sidelined, the Los Angeles Clippers need the rest of their roster. (Powell, Jackson Set Season High As Clippers Beat Jazz)
Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson followed their roles with the highest points of the season on Monday night.
Powell came off the bench to score 30 and Jackson added 27 as the Clippers beat the Utah Jazz 121–114 in the fourth quarter. (Powell, Jackson Set Season High As Clippers Beat Jazz)
“I give credit to the team. No matter who is on the court, we always feel like we have a chance to win,” coach Tyronn Lue said as the Clippers earned their third straight win. “Some nights are tough There are times and not every night is good, but we always try to find a way to make it happen. Different people are stepping up every night. (Powell, Jackson Set Season High As Clippers Beat Jazz)
“I thought late in the game, Norman and Reggie really brought it on offense.”
Leonard, who missed last season with a knee injury, had eight points and five assists in 23 minutes, while George was sidelined after injuring his right hamstring during Saturday’s win over San Antonio.
The Jazz led 93–86 late in the third quarter before the Clippers took control with a 20–8 run in a span of six minutes. (Powell, Jackson Set Season High As Clippers Beat Jazz)
Powell added nine points and Jackson added eight in the final 12 minutes. The Clippers forced six Jazz turnovers and limited them to 7-of-20 shooting from the floor.
“We didn’t panic. I think our coaches called some timeouts in the right places and allowed us to figure things out as a group, go out there and compete,” said Jackson, who has at least three straight games with at least 20 points.
Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won four of their last five.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 26 points and Lauri Markkanen had 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Jazz has lost four of their last six after starting the season 10-3.
“It’s a frustrating game. We played very well in some sections and we were very bad in some sections. It cost us the game,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. (Powell, Jackson Set Season High As Clippers Beat Jazz)
At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers had a 10-point lead. Powell’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 55–38 with 5:47 remaining in the first half before the Jazz came back. Utah scored eight straight points before trailing 66–56 at halftime.
Los Angeles led 80–70 midway through the third quarter before Utah went on a 23–6 run, which included seven points from Markkanen and six from Tallen Horton-Tucker.
“We did a great job coming out of the locker room in the third quarter and giving ourselves a chance to win the game,” Markkanen said. “We’re going to take a film of that fourth quarter and see what we can do better. I think there are some mistakes we can easily correct.”
Advice
Jazz: Kelly Olynyk had 19 points and Horton-Tucker scored 14 off the bench. … Jared Vanderbilt grabbed 10 rebounds. … Collin Sexton scored 10 points. Sexton made his second start of the season after Mike Conley was sidelined with a left knee strain.
Clippers: John Wall scored seven of his 13 points in the first quarter, including a half-court shot to end the period. … Los Angeles had a season-high 12 offensive rebounds.
