The Los Angeles Clippers, currently on a three-game losing streak matching their season high, will look to regain control of the game’s pace when they face the Utah Jazz on Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif.
This will be the teams’ first meeting after a trade between them, where the Clippers acquired Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills, and the Jazz got Mo Bamba and P.J. Tucker. Bamba has been waived, and Tucker was traded twice after that.
The Clippers’ recent losses are troubling, with their last two defeats standing out due to being outplayed in key moments.
The team was off to a rough start in a 122-97 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Then, against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, they couldn’t hold onto a 22-point lead, eventually losing 119-112 after getting outscored in the second quarter and late in the game.
The Clippers have been struggling at home, with a 2-4 record since Jan. 20, after having won six straight games at their new arena, starting with a 144-107 victory over Utah on Dec. 16. They are 2-0 against the Jazz this season, with both wins in Inglewood.
In Thursday’s game against Indiana, the Clippers had a 22-point lead early in the second quarter, but the Pacers took the lead by the time the first half ended. Los Angeles was outscored 42-19 in the second quarter and committed eight turnovers, while the Pacers shot 57.7% from the field during that period.
“Second quarter, turnovers, you know, that kind of killed us,” Clippers center Ivica Zubac said. “They were live-ball turnovers that would lead to the layups, and that kind of killed the whole momentum, man.”
James Harden and Norman Powell each scored 22 points, while Zubac added 18 points and 15 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard contributed 19 points in a season-high 33 minutes of play after starting the season late due to knee soreness.
“I didn’t mind tonight’s game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “You’re not gonna win every game, but there are some things that we can learn. Just (take) care of the basketball. We had a big lead and turn the ball over, turn the ball over, turn the ball over.”
Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)The Jazz, who have gone 2-2 after an eight-game losing streak, come into Los Angeles following a tough 135-127 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. John Collins scored 21 points for Utah, and Walker Kessler had 19 points and a career-high 22 rebounds.
Utah led 120-116 with 4.7 seconds left before Grayson Allen hit two three-pointers for the Suns to send the game into overtime. Phoenix then scored the first eight points in the extra period to win.
The Jazz are on a seven-game road losing streak, including two losses at Phoenix, and have a 7-20 record on the road this season.
Despite being near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the Jazz are staying positive, especially with the trade deadline now behind them.
“I think the chemistry we have as a group has continued to grow as the year has gone on,” said coach Will Hardy. “I know when we got in the plane yesterday, everybody was having that collective sigh of relief that we can just focus on what’s next and move forward.”
