LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 (BNA): With Kawhi Leonard still coming back and Paul George sidelined, the Los Angeles Clippers need the rest of the crew to pick up the slack.
Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson rounded out Monday night totals for the season, the Associated Press reports.
Powell came off the bench to score 30 and Jackson added 27 as the Clippers went into the fourth quarter to defeat the Utah Jazz 121-114.
“I give the team credit. No matter who’s on the ground, we always feel like we have a chance to win,” said coach Tyrone Law after the Clippers’ third straight win.
“It’s hard some nights and it’s not pretty every night, but we always seem to be trying to find a way to get it done. Different guys come up every night.”
“I thought at the end of the game, Norman and Reggie brought that home offensively.”
Leonard, who missed last season with a knee injury, scored eight points and five assists in 23 minutes while George was sidelined after sustaining a right hamstring injury during Saturday’s win over San Antonio.
The Jazz led 93-86 late in the third quarter before the Clippers regained control with a 20-8 six-minute spurt.
Powell scored nine points in the last 12 minutes, and Jackson added eight. The Clippers forced six turnovers for the Jazz and stopped them shooting 7 of 20 from the floor.
“We didn’t panic,” said Jackson, who had a three-game winning streak with at least 20 points. “I think our coaches took some time in the right places and let’s figure things out as a group, get out there and compete.”
Ivica Zubak scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won four of the last five.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 26 points, and Laurie Markkanen had 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Jazz have fallen four of their last six after starting the season 10-3.
“This is a frustrating game,” said Utah coach Will Hardy. “We played very well in long periods and were very poor in some stretches. It cost us the game.”
The Clippers led by 10 points at the end of the first quarter. Powell extended the 3-pointer advantage to 55-38 with 5:47 left in the first half before the Jazz started to come back. Utah scored eight straight points before losing the first period, 66-56.
Los Angeles was up 80-70 midway through the third quarter before Utah led 23-6, including seven points from Markkanen and six from Tallinn Horton-Tucker.
“We did a great job coming out of the locker room in the third quarter and giving us a chance to win the game,” Markkanen said. “We’ll see a movie about the fourth quarter and what we can do better. I think there are some mistakes we can easily correct.”
Tip-ins
Jazz: Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points and Horton Tucker scored 14 off the bench. … Jared Vanderbilt grabbed 10 rebounds. … Colin Sexton scored 10 points. Sexton earned his second start of the season with Mike Conley sidelined with a left knee strain.
Clippers: John Wall scored seven of his 13 points in the first quarter, including a half-court shot to end the period. … Los Angeles posted a season-high 12 offensive rebounds.
next one
Jazz: Go home to face Detroit on Wednesday.
Clippers: Play at Golden State on Wednesday.