Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (46-20) at Utah Jazz (22-43)

UPDATE: Marvin Williams is out. Enes Kanter will start.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won three straight games in Salt Lake City (eight straight overall against Utah). Historically the Clippers have been horrible in Utah. Prior to the current three game win streak Utah had won 15 out of 16 games against the Clips in Utah and 50 out of 51. Those were Jerry Sloan teams that were a sure fire thing at home and the Clippers well they were the old bad Clippers.

The Clippers and the Jazz are two teams going in opposite directions, that's however good news for both squads. The Jazz have lost 7-of-8 and the Clippers have won nine games in a row and are just now 2.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2nd spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz are tied for last place in the West with the Los Angeles Lakers. Most Jazz fans though don't want to be tied with the Lakers, we would like to gain a little bit of separation so it doesn't have to come down to a coin toss between us and one of the most storied franchises in NBA history.

Last Game

The last game the Jazz played against the Clippers, the Jazz lost 102-87. During that game the Jazz had a moral victory, I guess setting a team record for most 3 point attempts in a game. The Jazz attempted 30 three's that game but only made 10.

The Clippers were dead in the water for the first 3 quarters and the Jazz were able to keep the game close. In the 3rd the Clippers went on a run after a Blake Griffin put back and never really looked back. The Clippers lead the Jazz in fast break points 16-6, assists 25-19 and blocked shots 6-1.

Note: Derrick Favors did not play in the Jazz's last game against the Clippers. So although Kanter was our leading scorer with 23 points it does not matter one little bit because the Jazz are now 1- 4815162342 when Kanter starts.

Moni gif recap of the last game:

via jazzfanatical.files.wordpress.com

Karl Malone on Blake Griffin:

Jody Genessy wrote a nice article last night about tonight's game. In the article he included quotes from the Mailman about Blake Griffin. Richard Jefferson also had some interesting thoughts about what teams pasts mean to current players. Players or at least Jefferson looks at it very differently than most fans. Go read it.

The Mailman on Blake Griffin:

"I never jumped like that. I jumped when I had to. The physical play, I like that," Malone said. "I just like his demeanor. I would like to see him get mad one time. Me, it didn’t take too much to get me riled up. Blake is one of those guys, he just plays the game no matter what. He can play for a long time."

"When you turn and face your opponent they’re scared to death," Malone said. "I would never pay to see anybody play, but I will go see him."

And here is Griffin paying homage to Malone (via Moni)

via jazzfanatical.files.wordpress.com

Starting Lineups

Utah Jazz

PF- Derrick Favors

SF- Richard Jefferson

C- Enes Kanter

SG- Gordon Hayward

PG- Trey Burke

Los Angeles Clippers

PF- Blake Griffin

SF- Matt Barnes

C- DeAndre Jordan

SG- Darren Collison

PG- Chris Paul

Injury Report

Utah Jazz

Marvin Williams (F) - Sprained back - Questionable

John Lucas (PG)- ankle- Day-to-Day

Los Angeles Clippers

Jamal Crawford (G)- Calf- Day-to-Day

JJ Redick (G)- Back- Out indefinitely