Final
Jazz-Clippers Preview
Feb 8, 2010 - 8:28 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterUtah (31-18) at Los Angeles (21-29), 10:30 p.m. EDT
One month ago, the Utah Jazz were simply trying to move into the top eight in the Western Conference. A remarkable run now has them believing they can capture the second seed for the playoffs.
The Jazz look to extend their season-high winning streak to nine and continue their dominance over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Following a two-point loss at Memphis on Jan. 8, Utah dropped to 19-17 and sat in 10th place in the West. The Jazz, though, have since won 12 of 13 to pull within two games of Northwest Division-leading Denver for the conference's second seed.
Utah's lone loss during this stretch came at Denver on Jan. 17, and it was able to avenge that defeat and take a big step toward catching the Nuggets with Saturday's 116-106 win. Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko each had 22 points and Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 13 rebounds.
"It's huge. We've got a chance to get the second (playoff) seed," said Boozer, who sat out the previous three games with a strained right calf. "If we can maintain our streak, we have a chance to get it maybe even before the All-Star break gets here."
Utah's offense is leading the way during the win streak - the team's longest since a 12-game run from Feb. 11-March 10 last season - by averaging 111.3 points on 53.4 percent shooting. The Jazz (31-18) have scored at least 100 points in each of the last 10 contests, their longest such stretch since doing so in 12 straight from Feb. 24-March 16, 1998.
"As a team we're playing really great basketball right now," said Kirilenko, averaging 18.6 points on 72.2 percent shooting during the winning streak. "This is the basketball we're supposed to play."
The Jazz are 26-5 when scoring at least 100 points and their prolific offense could spell trouble for a Clippers team that is 2-21 when allowing at least 100.
These teams haven't met since Oct. 30, when Utah won 111-98 for its 10th victory in 12 games against Los Angeles (21-29). Rarely have the games been close, with the Jazz winning the last five by an average of 18.4 points.
The Clippers are coming off Saturday's 98-81 loss to San Antonio in their first game since Mike Dunleavy resigned as coach and was replaced on an interim basis by Kim Hughes. Los Angeles didn't look much different under Hughes, losing for the 11th time in 15 games.
Chris Kaman had 21 points and Eric Gordon added 20, but they were the only Clippers to score in double figures as the team turned the ball over 21 times.
"We're not going to win games playing this way and as we get better, we'll have more and more confidence in each other and get in better shape," point guard Baron Davis said. "I think our brighter days are definitely ahead of us."
Kaman was named to replace injured Portland guard Brandon Roy in this weekend's All-Star game Monday.
- NBA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 29 23 28 29 109
LA CLIPPERS 26 30 28 15 99 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: UTH - CARLOS BOOZER 34, DERON WILLIAMS 13,
RONNIE PRICE 11
LAC - CHRIS KAMAN 19, RASUAL BUTLER 18, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 16
Feb 10 1:00 AM - NBA
UTAH 80
LA CLIPPERS 84 END, 3RD QTR
Feb 10 12:24 AM - NBA
UTAH 52
LA CLIPPERS 56 HALFTIME
Feb 9 11:38 PM - NBA
END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 29 29
LA CLIPPERS 26 26 END 1ST QTR
HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER
UTH - MEHMET OKUR 7, DERON WILLIAMS 6, FOUR
PLAYERS WITH 4
LAC - RASUAL BUTLER 8, MARCUS CAMBY 6, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 4
Feb 9 11:29 PM
Related News
- Steph Curry Sets Another NBA Record Feb 15
- Utah Jazz complete 17 point comeback against Toronto Raptors Dec 23
- NBA trade rumor: two or three teams will try for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen Dec 23
- NBA trade rumor: trading for Lauri Markkanen is “wishful thinking” Dec 23
- Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors game preview Dec 23
- Andrei Kirilenko listed among eligible Hall of Fame nominees Dec 22
- Utah Jazz defeat bottom-feeder Detroit Pistons in 2nd straight road game Dec 21
- Utah Jazz vs Detroit Pistons: Jazz tries to avoid major upset Dec 21
- From Woj: Plenty of teams interested in Lauri Markkanen Dec 21
- Utah Jazz lose tough one to Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavaliers Dec 20
- Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers preview: start time, channel, injury report Dec 20
- Utah Jazz Trade Rumor: Lauri Markkanen believes in what the Jazz are building Dec 20