LA Clippers Lose Both the Game and Pat Beverly Against Utah Jazz, 120-107

The Utah Jazz has made a big surprise in LA tonight, with defeating the LA Clippers, 120-107. Quin Snyder’s guys have made a superb return in the third period, denied one push of the hosts in the last, and posted their 20th victory of the season.

“I thought they (Utah) were the more physical team… and that usually is where the winner comes out,” said Doc Rivers at the press, while explaining why his team lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUY6v0O6rrU

What might have affected this is the fact that Patrick Beverly had to leave the game early in the third due to his right-hand wrist injury. After one fastbreak, Rudy Gobert tried to block his shot, and while landing, Beverly hit the floor awkwardly. Knowing his style of play, and how he sets the tone on the defensive side of the ball, surely this had to have some influence on the development of the contest.

“He couldn’t even grab the ball, and that is not a good sign,” Rivers said of Beverly.

Soon after that, the Clippers started to slow down, and Utah turned the match upside down. The Jazzers were 13 points behind in the late part of the first period, 30-17, but after that managed to cut down the deficit and come to only two points away from the hosts.

Yet, Clippers made another push to pull away to 11 points, midway through the second. But then again, the guests came back. Once the Jazzers grabbed the lead, except for a brief moment at the start of the first period, they didn’t lose it until the buzzer.

Eventually, they would close the game on an 11-0 run, which saw the Clippers fans hitting the exits before the end of the contest.

What needs to be pointed out is Utah’s constant great defense, which held one of the most serious title contenders to just 36.8% from the field. Rivers spoke that following the game, emphasizing the data that his team never reached a 40%-mark in this game.

“When you shoot that poorly, and the other team never gets below 50%, you probably gonna lose the game,” he said.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had 39 points combined and were shooting 12 of 44, which marks one of the lowest percentages for these two this season. Kawhi had 19 points, George 20 with 10 boards.

Ivica Zubac played very nicely, posting a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards, nine of them offensive. Lou Williams came off the bench to score 16 while Landry Shamet had 12.

Beverly scored 12 buckets. He would return to the floor eventually, but the momentum was already shifted.

Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell was harassing the Clippers. And not only that, he added several more spectacular moves to his highlight reel. The Spider dropped 30, hitting 4 threes, and tallying 9 assists with 7 boards.

The @utahjazz come away victorious against LAC behind @spidadmitchell's 30 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST! #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/fJVlTig5aR

— NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2019

The recent addition through a trade with the Cavaliers, Jordan Clarkson scored 19 off the bench, while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 17. Joe Ingles drilled 5 threes for 15 buckets.

This was the seventh win for the Jazzers in the past eight matches. They are now 20-12 and go back to Salt Lake to face the Pistons on Monday. Following this contest, Utah heads on a three-game tour to meet the Bulls, Magic and the Pelicans.

As for the Clippers (23-11), Rivers’ team heads for Sacramento to meet the Kings on New Year’s Eve, and play four matches at home after that.