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The last time the Clippers won in Utah was January 22, 2003
The Chris Paul era with the Los Angeles Clippers hasn't just brought a second playoff contender to Staples Center this season. The point guard also means there are two legitimate candidates for NBA Most Valuable Player who play their home games in the building. Paul, along with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, are rated as strong contenders in the latest NBA MVP Power Rankings at SB Nation.
Tom Ziller rightfully rates LeBron James as the clear top choice for NBA MVP this season, but Bryant made a leap over Kevin Durant for the No. 2 spot in the pecking order. "Kobe hasn't been just the top scorer among two-guards this season, but he's also one of the best rebounders and the best playmaker," said Ziller. "If you close your eyes and look at the numbers, he's been disturbingly Wade-like."
Bryant leads the NBA in scoring this season, at 30.0 points per game, and is averaging 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this season.
Paul, who has led the Clippers to the lead over the Lakers in the Pacific Division, is also seen as a strong MVP candidate, currently ranked eighth.
"There's a feeling that those back-to-back wins over the Nuggets and Thunder constituted a turning point for the Clippers, and CP3's floor game would have been the dominant story if not for Blake Griffin's maiming of Kendrick Perkins," wrote Ziller. "By the end of the season, once his games played number catches up, he should be right near the top of this list.
Chris Paul scored 12 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 107-105 win over the Utah Jazz Wednesday night at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The win snapped a 16-game losing streak in Utah for the Clippers, who had lost 42 of their previous 43 games in Utah.
The last time the Clippers won in Utah was January 22, 2003, when Elton Brand had 24 points and 10 rebounds leading the Clippers to a 96-89 victory. The Clippers had six players score in double figures in that game, including Wang Zhizhi.
Paul had 11 assists and three steals to go with his season-high 34 points, making a ridiculous 15 of 24 shots from the field. Blake Griffin had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won four straight games. Mo Williams added 19 points off the bench for Los Angeles.
For as offensive as the first half was - Utah led 58-56 at halftime - the third quarter featured some cold shooting. Both teams scored just 16 points in the third period, a season low for the Clippers. After making 61.4% of their shots in the first half, Utah made just five of 21 field goals in the third quarter. Griffin scored 10 of the Clippers' 16 points in the third quarter and grabbed five rebounds as well.
Al Jefferson was magnificent for Utah, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Jefferson, who missed the last game for the Jazz with an inflamed right ankle, made 12 of 20 shots from the field.
No rest for the weary, as the Clippers return home Thursday night to host the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. The nationally televised game on TNT will be the Clippers fourth game in five nights.
For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.
The Utah Jazz opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run and rode a hot-shooting first half to a 58-56 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers at halftime Wednesday night at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Clippers have lost 16 straight games in Utah, and 42 of their last 43 road games to the Jazz. Utah shot 61.4% (27 for 44) in the opening half.
Al Jefferson, who missed the last game with an inflamed right ankle, returned to the lineup for Utah Wednesday night and had 18 points and five rebounds in the first half. Jefferson made nine of 11 shots from the field. Derrick Favors scored 10 points off the bench for the Jazz.
Chris Paul scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and had eight assists for the Clippers, who shot 53.3% (24 for 45) in the first half. Blake Griffin had 16 points and seven rebounds in the opening 24 minutes.
The Clippers got off to a fantastic start on the offensive end, as their first five field goals were slam dunks, all assisted by Paul. Unfortunately on the defensive end, center DeAndre Jordan picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, and was limited to just 11 minutes in the first half.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair that saw the Clippers lead 32-29 after 12 minutes before Utah made their run. The Jazz led by as many as 10 points in the first half.
For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.
The Los Angeles Clippers look for their fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday night, facing the Utah Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Clippers have lost 16 straight and 42 of their last 43 games in Utah, dating all the way back to 1990. If they are to break the streak Wednesday, they will have to beat a Utah team with Al Jefferson.
The big man for the Jazz returns to the starting lineup after missing a game with an inflamed right ankle. Jefferson is averaging 17.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season for Utah.
Caron Butler was a late scratch for the Clippers, out with a sore lower back. Ryan Gomes will start in his place. Raja Bell is out for Utah with a strained right adductor muscle. Here are Wednesday's starting lineups:
Point Guard: Chris Paul
Shooting Guard: Chauncey Billups
Small Forward: Ryan Gomes
Power Forward: Blake Griffin
Center: DeAndre Jordan
Point Guard: Devin Harris
Shooting Guard: Gordon Hayward
Small Forward: Josh Howard
Power Forward: Paul Millsap
Center: Al Jefferson
Wednesday night's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised on ESPN and Prime Ticket. For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the teams with the two best records in the Western Conference in their last two games. On Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, the Clippers get a chance at the No. 5 Utah Jazz, who are 12-7 on the season. Here are the relevant details of Wednesday night's game.
Records: Clippers (12-6); Jazz (12-7)
Location: Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City
Time: 7:30 p.m. PST
TV & Streaming: ESPN and ESPN3.com, with Terry Gannon and Chris Mullin on the call and Heather Cox reporting from the sideline; locally the game will also be on Prime Ticket, with Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith on the call.
Offensive Efficiency: Clippers, 107.5 points per 100 possessions (fifth in NBA); Utah, 104.7 (10th)
Defensive Efficiency: Utah, 103.4 (19th); Clippers, 105.4 (25th)
Home/Road: Utah is 10-3 at home this season, and have won their last two home games; the Clippers are 2-4 on the road, winning their last away game.
Two Decades Of Fail: The Clippers have lost an amazing 16 straight games in Utah, and 42 of their last 43 regular season games in Salt Lake City.
Five Figures: Caron Butler on Monday became the 47th active NBA player to score 10,000 points (and the 307th NBA player ever to do so).
Hot Shooting: The Clippers hit a season-high 14 three-pointers on Sunday against Denver, then hit 13 more Monday night in a win over Oklahoma City. In their last two games the Clippers have made 27 of 55 shots from three-point range (49.0%).
Lob City: The Clippers have two of the top four in the NBA in slam dunks this season, with Blake Griffin third at 47 dunks and DeAndre Jordan fourth at 42. JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards leads the NBA with 49 dunks this season.
For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation
The Los Angeles Clippers look for their fourth straight win on Wednesday night, but will have to get it in what has been a house of horrors for two decades, facing the Utah Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. The Clippers have one of the most amazing streaks of futility going in Utah, having lost 16 straight games and 42 of their last 43 contests against the Jazz on the road., dating back to 1990.
But this is a new era in Clipperland, with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin turning the corner into contention, as wins over the teams with the top two records in the Western Conference, Denver and Oklahoma City, on Sunday and Monday, showed. Then again, this Clippers team did get waxed 108-79 in Utah earlier this season, on January 17.
But Paul did not play in that game for the Clippers, and the point guard is back now and playing better than ever. He scored 51 combined points in his last two games, wins over the Nuggets and Thunder, and in his last six games he has just 57 assists against just nine turnovers.
The Clippers have made 27 of 55 shots from three-point range in their last two games, including a season-high 14 against Denver on Sunday. Paul has at least one steal in 22 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Wednesday night's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised on ESPN and Prime Ticket. For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.
Clippers Vs. Jazz Game Recap: Chris Paul, Blake Griffin Go 30/30 In Utah
The Los Angeles Clippers did something they hadn't done in nine years on Wednesday night, beating the Utah Jazz on the road, a hard-fought 107-105 victory. The win snapped a 16-game losing streak for the Clippers in Salt Lake City, and was just their second win in their last 44 road games against the Jazz.
Chris Paul, with 34 points and 11 assists, and Blake Griffin with 31 points and 14 rebounds, led the way for the Clippers, becoming the rare Clippers duo with 30 points in the same game. Griffin was also a part of the last Clippers duo with 30 points in the same game, along with Eric Gordon last March 23 against the Washington Wizards.
Last night was just the 10th game in the last 27 years with a pair of Clippers each scoring 30 points.
For more news and information regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.
Feb 02 5:45a by Eric Stephen