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Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Takeaways From Crucial Game 3 Win

By Nicholas Agar-Johnson

April 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20), guard George Hill (3) and forward Derrick Favors (15) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20), guard George Hill (3) and forward Derrick Favors (15) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 21, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after beating the Utah Jazz 111-106 in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.
Apr 21, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after beating the Utah Jazz 111-106 in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports. /

No. 1: CP3 Outlasts Gordon Hayward In A Clash of Titans

The last sequence of Game 3 perfectly encapsulated the story of the game as a whole. With 3.3 seconds left and the Utah Jazz down by three points, a visibly gassed Gordon Hayward threw a terrible inbound pass and handed possession back to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Chris Paul then proceeded to catch the ensuing inbound pass and iced the game with two clutch free throws.

Hayward scored a career-high 40 points as he broke his slump from the first two games. His 21 first quarter points broke Karl Malone’s record for most points by a Jazz player in a playoff quarter.

However, he faded down the stretch of the game and only scored four points in the fourth quarter.

Chris Paul, on the other hand, began to light up the scoreboard in earnest in the second half. Paul finished the night with 34 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. However, all seven of those rebounds and 23 of those points came in the second half.

Paul looked to score far more often with Griffin out of the lineup. The results were nothing short of spectacular.

In a vacuum, Derrick Favors probably made some right choices. It’s always a bad idea to leave DeAndre Jordan with a free lane to the rim when Paul has the ball in his hands. That being said, it’s an even worse idea to let Chris Paul shoot an open three in any playoff game.

It’s a worse idea still to allow Paul to take that shot with the Clippers on a 6-0 run and down by two points. Los Angeles regained the lead on this play for the first time since it was 15-14 in the first quarter, and never trailed again.

Although the Blake Griffin injury was devastating to the Clippers, this game should be remembered as an incredible duel between two incredible players. In the end, Chris Paul managed to outlast Gordon Hayward.

The 2-1 lead in the series is certainly not a death knell for Utah’s chances. However, their inability to win despite fantastic games from both Hayward and Hill is a bad sign for their chances of winning three of the next four games.

Must Read: Every NBA team's Mount Rushmore

The Los Angeles Clippers might not be in the best of spirits today after the Blake Griffin announcement. Nonetheless, they gave themselves a decided advantage in this series on the back of Chris Paul.

Los Angeles will have to continue to follow Paul’s lead to advance to the second round.

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