The 4th place Utah Jazz (45-33) take on the 10th place LA Clippers (42-36). Both teams have just four games left in the regular season. Jazz are fighting for home court in the playoffs (and a playoff spot) and the Clippers are fighting for their playoff lives. Given where these two teams were in the beginning of July its pretty remarkable where they are.

The 2017 First Round series seems ages ago. CP3, Hayward, Zupas, it feels like a different life. Now its all about Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Tobias Harris, and DeAndre Jordan.

Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images

Game Info:

When: Thursday, April 5, 2018, 7:00 p.m. MDT

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

TV: AT&T Sports Net - Rocky Mountain

Radio: 1280 AM/97.5 FM The Zone

Injuries:

Utah Jazz:

Thabo Sefolosha- OUT (Knee)

Raul Neto - OUT (Wrist)

Los Angeles Clippers:

Danilo Gallinari- OUT (hand)

Milos Teodosic- OUT (foot)

Jawun Evans - OUT (groin)

Avery Bradley- OUT (groin)

Patrick Beverley - OUT (knee)

What to watch for

The Clippers Offense

The Clippers are 5-5 in their last ten games. Their last victory was a victory for the Jazz, as the Clippers beat fellow Western Conference foe, the San Antonio Spurs. Tobias Harris was their leading scorer with 31 points. Lou Williams scored 22 off the bench. The Clippers are the 6th best offensive team since the All Star break, averaging 112.8 ppg. Lou Williams is their leading scorer with 22.7 ppg, Tobias Harris is second, averaging 18.8 ppg. For the last few weeks it seems like the Jazz have had a Linas Kleiza type Jazz-killer going off on them. LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Andrew Wiggins (First quarter), and most recently Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Who will be the honorary Linas Kleiza tonight?

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Game Predictions:

Tonight’s game will be fought tooth and nail. It won’t be like the the Jazz vs Clippers game a few years ago when Jazz were playing for the playoff lives and lost to the D-League Clippers.

The Jazz have risen to the occasion for every big game since January (25-5). They will not go down without a fight. No more wet willies, no more losing to D-league teams.

This game will not be easy. The Clippers (much like the 2016 Jazz) are fighting for their season. The Clippers are sitting 10th in the West, only 2 games out of the 8th spot and 3 games from 4th. The Clippers will not lay down tonight. The Jazz will have to fight for this win, they will have to come out with more intensity than they did the Lakers.

My prediction: The Jazz will beat the Clippers 115-108. Let’s hope we se more of this from Donovan!