Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Takeaways From Game 1 Vs. Jazz

Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts at the end of the Clippers 97-95 loss to the Utah Jazz in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Jazz won on a buzz-beater by Joe Johnson. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

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Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (left) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning basket with no time remaining in Game One of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers at Staples Center. The Jazz won 97-95. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Clippers lost the opening game of their first-round series to the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz unfortunately lost Rudy Gobert to an injury early in the game. With that in mind, here are five takeaways as to how the Clippers can recover and win the series.

The Los Angeles Clippers had an opportunity to take a crushing victory in Game 1 of their first round playoff series against the Utah Jazz.

The Clippers came into the series having taken the season series 3-1, in addition to having won 18 of their previous 20 matchups. That advantage became even more severe when the Jazz lost Rudy Gobert to injury on the first play of the game.

Nobody would have knocked the Jazz for rolling over without their defensive anchor. Instead, they pieced together a 97-95 victory, capped off by a Joe Johnson buzzer-beater.

The loss was certainly a blow to the Clippers, as they had every right to assume the game was theirs for the taking. They will have some time before Game 2 on Tuesday night to regroup and figure out what went wrong. In the meantime, here are five takeaways for how the Clippers could turn the series around as they prepare for their next showdown.

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