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The Clippers’ Lou Williams reacts toward an official during the first half of Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Utah’s Donovan Mitchell goes for a rebound during the first half of Wednesday’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Serge Ibaka #9 of the LA Clippers wins the tip off against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers slam dunks against Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers slam dunks against Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers shoots against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers controls the ball in front of head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers passes against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz reacts against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers blocks a shot by Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers blocks a shot by Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers fights for the rebound against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz passes against Serge Ibaka #9 of the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers steals a pass from Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz passes against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers shoots over Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz rebounds against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz rebounds against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Serge Ibaka #9 of the LA Clippers shoots over Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers fights for the rebound against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers reacts against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball over Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Reggie Jackson #1 of the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers fights for the rebound against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert blocks a shot by the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the LA Clippers in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Reggie Jackson #1 of the LA Clippers fights for the ball against Miye Oni #81 of the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Reggie Jackson #1 of the LA Clippers fights for the ball against Miye Oni #81 of the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz slam dunks against the LA Clippers in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers reacts toward an official after a foul in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers passes against Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers passes against Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers passes against Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers reacts in front of public address announcer Eric Smith in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz slam dunks against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz shoots agains Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Tyronn Lue talks with Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers against the Utah Jazz Head coach in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball agains the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) goes around a screen set by Serge Ibaka (9) on Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, right, vies for a loose ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, right, shoots over Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley, center, and Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers reacts against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, right, shoots over Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Serge Ibaka, left, grabs a rebound next to Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots past Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, right, dribbles next to Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert grabs a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he left his measuring stick at home before his team tipped off Wednesday against Western Conference-leading Utah at Staples Center.
He insisted he was less concerned with how the scoreboard read at the end of this regular-season game between his undermanned squad and the fire-breathing Jazz than what his players’ effort told him: “We just want to go out and compete and play as hard as we can.”
Utah, understand, arrived in L.A. having won 19 of its last 20 games. The Jazz’s steamrolling, barnstorming, waste-laying tour through the NBA seemed likely to continue Wednesday at Staples Center, where the Clippers entered the fight without superstars Kawhi Leonard (leg contusion), Paul George (bone edema), plus starting forward Nicolas Batum (concussion) and then Luke Kennard, the 3-point specialist who was a late scratch with a sore right knee.
On Monday, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. insisted that – even short-handed – the Clippers relished the opportunity to test themselves against the team with the conference’s best record. Before the game, Lue was game but realistic: “We know they’re the best team record-wise, but you know that’s not gonna stop us from playing … and we’ll see what happens tonight.”
What happened: The Clippers kept it interesting for a while, but they couldn’t keep Utah in check, falling, 114-96. It’s just the fourth time this season Lue’s squad scored fewer than 100 points – and the fourth time they made fewer than 10 3-pointers, finishing this one with just nine.
That’s in character for the Jazz, who are allowing the fewest 3-pointers (11 per game) in the NBA – while making the most (16.6).
On Wednesday, they finished 13 for 40 from behind the arc – with eight of their makes coming in the second half.
The Clippers (21-9) flexed their depth early, coming out with defensive bite and offensive confidence, and taking a 51-46 lead into halftime. The Jazz shot just 38.8% (19 for 49) in the opening half, as Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic combined to shoot 9 for 31.
But Utah (24-5) found its footing after that, and the Clippers ran out of gas, outpaced 68-45 in the final two periods as they dropped their first game in five tries. The Jazz took control with a 14-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, followed by a 16-3 run to put it away.
“Our guys, they played and they competed,” Lue said afterward, via Zoom video conference. “I just thought Lou (Williams) was a little out of gas tonight. He’s the guy who’s been making it go for us but can’t fault our effort or our competing.”
Williams – who averaged 24 points and 10 assists in the past two games, his first two starts of the season – again led his team Wednesday with 16 points, but only two points and two assists came in the second half.
Jackson scored just five of his 15 points after halftime, when, as a team, the Clippers shot just 4 for 17 from deep – two of those baskets belonging to Amir Coffey, whose consecutive 3s in the third quarter gave the Clippers a short-lived 76-75 lead.
Coffey finished with 13 points off the bench (on 5-of-6 shooting) in his second game back from the G League bubble, and starting center Serge Ibaka finished with 10 points. The Clippers’ other center, Ivica Zubac, finished with eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench – eight of those boards coming in the first half.
The slippage began right out of halftime, when the Jazz outscored the Clippers 14-8 to take a 60-59 lead before outscoring their hosts, 35-24, in the quarter to pull ahead by six points going into the fourth period. Center Rudy Gobert had 12 points in the frame and Utah outrebounded the Clippers 13-7, including pulling down five offensive rebounds.
The Clippers – who were plagued by 18 turnovers, which Utah turned into 21 points – didn’t help themselves by committing six fouls in the third quarter, sending Utah to the free-throw line seven times (resulting in six points).
Mitchell finished with 24 points, Gobert scored 17 of his 23 in the second half (to go with 20 rebounds) and Clarkson added 18 points off the bench.
“We don’t have everybody, so it’s hard to gauge,” said Terance Mann, who had eight points on 3-for-6 shooting for L.A. “It’s kind of like last game, work on our team, work on everybody’s confidence, see where we’re at at the end of the game. At the end of the day, just be happy with our efforts.”
The Clippers won’t have to wait long for another opportunity to test themselves against the best in the West: The teams will clash again Friday night at Staples Center.
“I’m happy to get a chance to play this team again,” Jackson said. “Best team in the West right now, so we really want to test ourselves and see where we’re at. Being depleted is always tough, you want to have your main guys out there. Missing everybody who’s out, missing Paul, missing Nic, missing Kawhi for sure … (it’s) always tough to play without, but next man up. We have to step up and we have to continue to figure out a way to do this.”
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