Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers NBA Playoffs Game 4 Preview

 

After a dominant win on Saturday, the Clippers have new life in their series against the Jazz and will have a chance to even things up in Game 4. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George led the Clippers to blowout win over the Jazz in Game 3 on Saturday. The home team has won every game in this series so far. Kawhi and PG-13 made sure that LA would not fall into a 3-0 deficit against Utah, the top seed in the Western Conference by coming away with a 132-106 win.

The Jazz hung around for most of the game but it was the Clippers who got it done with just over six minutes to play, putting things out of reach. Leonard and George combined for 65 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the win and the Clippers also received major contributions from Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum, who finished with 17 points apiece. Jackson is coming up huge. He’s their source for alternative buckets.

Donovan Mitchell was phenomenal for the Jazz again as he scored 30 points to lead the way but he appeared to tweak his ankle during the middle of the fourth quarter and would not return to the game, though he remained on the bench. Mitchell said he’ll be ready for Game 4: “I feel like I was able to go back, but no need to risk it down 16, 18 at that point,” he explained. “I’ll be fine.” Game 4 takes place on Monday at 10:00 PM ET at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Dafanews Picks

Team to Win (Regular Time)
• Utah Jazz: 2.60
• Los Angeles Clippers: 1.56

Spread
• Utah Jazz: +4.5 (1.89)
• Los Angeles Clippers: -4.5 (1.92)

Total
• Over 223.5 (1.90)
• Under 223.5 (1.90)

Key Points to Consider

Leonard and George have to be volume scorers with constant aggression. The way they played on Saturday is how they’re at their best and how the whole defense and noise is silenced. They have to turn heel, become the villains. When smooth/polished talents like Leonard and George are in attack mode, it puts the defense in a fearful position. George in particular, has the talent level of Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum and was at one point he was going head-to-head with LeBron and KD. He has to remind them this with aggression.

The Jazz went 19-for-44 (43.2 percent) from beyond the arc and they were 21-4 this season when making at least 19 3-pointers but it wasn’t enough this time as they let the Clippers go 19-for-36 (52.8 percent) from 3-point range. Making 19 3-pointers is great but if you allow the other team to make that many it negates any advantage you would have gained.

Utah had another issue, they just couldn’t get anything going inside as they went 17-for-40 on 2-point shots overall, and just 14-for-25 at the rim. The Clippers went small in this game but the Jazz didn’t have any success attacking the rim. That has to change on Monday.

The Over is 7-1 in Utah’s last eight overall, 7-1 in Utah’s last eight games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game, 7-1 in Utah’s last eight games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game, 7-1 in Utah’s last eight games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game, 6-1 in Utah’s last seven games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles.

Projected Leaders

For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell is projected to finish with 25.5 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds, making 9.1 field goals in 19.9 attempts.

For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard is expected to score 28.1 points with 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists, making 10.2 field goals in 18.1 attempts.

Analyst’s Pick

The Over.

Four-star (out of four) AccuScore hot trend pick on the Over in this one. Average score in simulations is Los Angeles Clippers 114.8 to Utah Jazz 114.2.