The Utah Jazz fell to 1-1 in their first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Where should they look to improve going forward?
After stealing Game 1 on a buzzer-beater, the Utah Jazz fell short of taking two games in a row on the road in their first round playoff series, succumbing to the Los Angeles Clippers by a score of 99-91 in Game 2.
From the tip, it was clear that the Clippers were playing with a new level of intensity and physicality. Every time the Jazz looked to drive the lane, they would be met with a wall of bodies. Each time they set a screen, their defenders would be aggressively attempting to jump it.
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles was also able to assert its will in transition, getting baskets before the Jazz defense was set on multiple occasions.
This led to their first quarter leads of 11-3 and 19-8, both of which prompted a Quin Snyder timeout.
The Clippers would maintain this advantage the rest of the way, carrying an 11-point lead at the end of the first quarter and a nine-point lead at halftime.
Over the course of the second half, the Jazz would never come closer than three points, while the deficit remained around 10 points for the entire fourth quarter.
Gordon Hayward again led the scoring effort for Utah with 20 points, with four other Jazz players finishing in double figures.
On the Clippers’ side, Blake Griffin paced his team with 24 points, while Chris Paul also finished with 21.
Rudy Gobert missed Game 2 dealing with a hyperextended knee and bone contusion suffered on Saturday, and with no clear timetable for his return, the Jazz are in the dark as far as when they’ll see him on the floor again, if at all this season.
His absence created a whole new swath of issues and concerns for both teams, and there’s plenty to learn from the Clippers’ victory in this one.