LOS ANGELES — Paul George has a way of taking over games, coming through with his brand of heroics when the Clippers need it the most. He came up big the past three games and he did it again Sunday, this time with a 34-point, eight-rebound performance.
“He has shown that before when the team needed it,” Batum said. “He steps up and did it. And until Kawhi (Leonard) comes back, he needs to play like that. Even when Kawhi comes back, he needs to play like that anyway. He has shown why he is the best shooting guard in the NBA.”
Only this time it wasn’t enough. The Clippers (5-5) needed more than George to have a chance against the red-hot Utah Jazz on Sunday. The Jazz, who came into the game having won four in a row, outscored the Clippers 18-6 in the final five minutes for a 110-102 victory at Crypto.com Arena.
Coach Tyronn Lue said he doesn’t expect George to carry the team every night.
“We have a lot of guys who are capable,” he said. “Once we get our rotations down and guys are in and out. So, getting the flow and getting our rotations has been kind of tough. But we have guys that are capable of helping him out. So that won’t be a problem.”
The Clippers, who were looking to build upon a modest three-game winning streak couldn’t overcome the Jazz (7-3) despite outscoring Utah in the paint, 60 to 34, taking more shots and five players in double figures.
Not even the inspired play of guard John Wall, who came off the bench to score 12 points, the strong defensive play of Ivica Zubac (12 points, nine rebounds), Terance Mann’s 14 points or the solid shooting of Marcus Morris Sr., who finished with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting could derail the Jazz.
The numbers that bothered George were the free throw discrepancy and fouls. The Clippers were called for 26 fouls compared to the Jazz’s 15; Utah made 25 of 26 free throws.
“Those two different numbers stand out,” George said. “And not to put it on the officials because we made bad fouls in that fourth quarter to close the game out. I think we sent them to the line way too many times on possessions where we should have done a better job of playing defense.”
Another glaring statistic was how Jazz’s dominated from the 3-point line, where they made 15 of 40 shots. The Clippers were 8 of 30. George said he thought they were good looks that just didn’t fall.
“I think we missed all 10 of them in the fourth quarter and that could have been on me, too,” Lue said. “I thought Paul and Marcus got tired, played a little too many minutes. I should have probably held PG out a couple more minutes in that fourth quarter if I could have. So that’s on me.”
The Clippers managed to quiet Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, for a time, limiting him to 17 points until late in the third quarter, when he scored a jumper with 47 seconds left. His lull helped the Clippers turn a six-point deficit into an 85-87 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.
Clarkson, however, managed to get back into the flow and finish with a team-high 23 points.
The Clippers took a 93-89 lead with 7:52 remaining on a driving layup by Wall. The Jazz closed to within one 93-92.
The Clippers extended their lead 96-92 on a pair of free throws by George before the Jazz hit four foul shots to take a 98-96 lead with less than five minutes. Malik Beasley hit from the corner for a 101-96 Utah lead with 4:13 left.
The Clippers were able to pull within four, 106-102, but that’s as close as they got.
Lue started Mann in place of Luke Kennard, who didn’t play because of unexplained chest discomfort he experienced against San Antonio. It was just the latest adjustment Lue has had to make through the first 10 games.
In this case, however, Lue’s choice worked well. Lue said his versatility was a plus, but playing multiple positions tends to sap his energy and aggressiveness.
“One night he’s playing a five, the next night he’s playing a three,” Lue said. When John (Wall) sits out, he’s playing a backup point. So, I think he’s been doing a lot of thinking on the floor, and we just need to get him back to just playing hard and doing what he does.”
Mann’s aggressiveness resulted in him picking up his fifth foul in the fourth. His foul was part of three consecutive fouls called on the Clippers in a span of 10 seconds, putting the Jazz in a bonus situation resulting in a barrage of free throws.
George got off to a slow start as he struggled to combat the Jazz’s pace. He turned the ball over twice before he landed his first basket at the 7:28 mark of the first quarter. But he got back into the mix quickly and had 13 points by the end of the first quarter.
Morris and George were on the bench to start the second quarter and once again the second unit failed to control the lead. The Jazz took advantage of the Clippers’ turnovers to go on a 11-2 run to take a 40-31 lead with 8:33 remaining in the half.
The Jazz, behind Clarkson, took a 63-56 lead into the locker room at halftime.
INJURY REPORT
Kawhi Leonard continues to progress in his return to the court, Lue said. He has missed the past seven games because of stiffness in his right knee and will not play Monday against Cleveland and is out indefinitely. “We knew coming off an ACL, it wasn’t going to be a straight line,” Lue said. “The biggest thing is he’s progressing well.”
Kennard (chest discomfort) did not play Sunday. Lue said he didn’t know whether he took a hit to the chest during the game but will undergo more testing Monday. Guard Reggie Jackson banged knees with an opposing player and could be doubtful for Monday. He said we would “be fine.”