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Los Angeles Clippers: 3 Takeaways From Tough Game 4 Loss

By Nicholas Agar-Johnson

Mar 29, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. The Clippers won 133-124. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. The Clippers won 133-124. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) shoots the ball over LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during Game 4 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports.
Apr 23, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) shoots the ball over LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during Game 4 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports. /

No. 1: Iso Joe Reigns Once More

Joe Johnson broke the hearts of the Los Angeles Clippers with a Game 1 buzzer-beater. He came back with even more ferocity in Game 4, as he single-handedly carried the Utah Jazz to victory down the stretch.

Johnson finished the game with 28 points on 17 shots, but did most of his damage in the fourth quarter. After the Clippers took an 87-80 lead with 7:37 remaining, Johnson scored 11 straight points for Utah.

That scoring outburst came as part of an 11-4 Jazz run as they took the lead on yet another clutch shot from Iso Joe:

The  Clippers clamped down on Johnson after this play, but that did not stop him from controlling the game. He proceeded to assist on three of Utah’s next four shots–all three were triples–and make the game-icing free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

The Clippers will have a better shot at defending Johnson in Game 5 as Austin Rivers is expected to return, per The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Nonetheless, Johnson once again took over in the fourth quarter and left the Clippers with another crushing defeat.

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They will have to hope that Rivers can keep Iso Joe at bay. If not, the Clippers may not be able to win two of the next three games and advance to the second round.

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