Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Takeaways From Crucial Game 3 Win
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball against Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20), guard George Hill (3) and forward Derrick Favors (15). Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.
The Los Angeles Clippers came to Utah for a crucial Game 3 after a 1-1 split at Staples Center. They managed to win 111-106 in a close game with no shortage of heroics on either side.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost home court advantage to the Utah Jazz in Game 1 on a Joe Johnson buzzer-beater. Although the Clippers managed to secure a Game 2 victory, they entered Salt Lake City on Friday night for a series-defining game.
The Clippers started off slowly as Gordon Hayward personally matched the team's scoring output in a 34-21 first quarter. After trailing by nine points at halftime, however, the Clippers finished the game strong.
While the Clippers may have managed to piece together a win, the news from the team wasn't all positive. Nonetheless, they head into Game 4 with five key takeaways to watch for the rest of the series.
What were they?
Although Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) drew the foul on this play against LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) in the fourth quarter, Jordan held Favors to a quiet night. The Jazz big man also missed both of the ensuing free throws on this possession. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.
No. 5: DeAndre Jordan Shuts Down Derrick Favors
The enduring memory of Derrick Favors from this Game 3 will be the two free throws that he missed with 43 seconds left in the game. However, his complete lack of impact on the game prior to that moment was far more damaging to Utah's chances of winning their home opener.
Favors managed just two points on three shots in 38 minutes. He also grabbed just six rebounds despite starting at center, and added five fouls to his box score tally.
DeAndre Jordan completely neutralized Favors on the offensive end and the Los Angeles Clippers as a team attacked him aggressively near the rim. The Clippers were 20 of 26 on shots attempts taken less than five feet from the basket, per NBA.com.
The Clippers are clearly better off with Favors in the middle than they would be if Rudy Gobert were healthy. Still, the difference was quite stark in this game. Favors finished with a plus-minus of -17.
No other player on either team finished the night with a plus-minus below -5.
The Clippers will look to continue to attack Favors if he can't at least return to the decent level of play he exhibited in the first two games of the series.
LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) reacts to beating the Utah Jazz 111-106 in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.
No. 4: Luc Mbah a Moute's Tale Of Two Halves
The fifth starter for the Los Angeles Clippers had a rough start to the game last night. Gordon Hayward scored 25 points in the half, including 21 in the first quarter, after Luc Richard Mbah a Moute kept Hayward mostly in check for the first two games.
Mbah a Moute isn't on the floor for his offensive prowess, but he struggled on that end, as well, in the first half. He only managed to score two points on four shots.
Mbah a Moute looked lost on both ends of the floor and appeared to be wilting under the immense task of keeping a red-hot Hayward in check.
Mbah a Moute then flipped the script completely in a fantastic second half. He scored 13 points on just five shots and played fantastic defense on Hayward down the stretch.
Mbah a Moute may not be as important to the Clippers' success as the other four starters, but his much-improved offense and elite wing defense make him a key cog in their incredible starting unit.
The Clippers will need Mbah a Moute to continue to play like he did in the second half to keep Utah out of reach in this series.
Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) drive to the hoop against LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) in the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.
#3: George Hill Quietly Puts Together a Brilliant Game
It seems clear that George Hill's performance will not be remembered when discussing the outcome of this Game 3. However, Hill was a necessary component to Utah's offense. His efforts might not grab the headlines surrounding this game, but he certainly did his part for the Jazz.
Hill finished with 26 points on just 15 shots, including four of six shooting from beyond the arc. Hill also did not turn the ball over once, a truly impressive accomplishment against one of the league's best ballhawks in Chris Paul.
The Los Angeles Clippers can expect to win the point guard matchup in every game in this series. In spite of that, Hill made that matchup far closer than anyone could have expected coming into the game. Los Angeles will have to put more pressure on Hill as the series continues as they look to close out the Jazz, especially after the reports that surfaced following the game.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers will spend a lot more time talking with forward Blake Griffin than he would have liked for the rest of the playoffs. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
#2: Blake Griffin Sustains Toe Injury
Blake Griffin was visibly frustrated as he checked out of the game last night with 3:18 left in the second quarter. The Clippers ruled him out with a bruised toe after initial X-rays revealed that the toe was not broken. While he did miss the remainder of Game 3, the prognosis appeared to be positive in terms of the rest of the series.
The update this morning, however, was not positive:
Injury Update: Blake Griffin will miss the remainder of the 2017 NBA Playoffs with an injury to the plantar plate of his right big toe. pic.twitter.com/ZWuFWcQ5pI
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 22, 2017
However, this injury is devastating for Los Angeles both in terms of their second round odds and in terms of their future. With Griffin likely to decline his player option and enter free agency this summer, it is possible that Blake has played his last game for the Clippers. The injury grew in importance after this morning's news but did not control the outcome of the game as much as two other star players.
Apr 21, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after beating the Utah Jazz 111-106 in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.
#1: CP3 Outlasts Gordon Hayward In A Clash of Titans
The last sequence of this Game 3 perfectly encapsulated the story of the game as a whole. With 3.3 seconds left and the Jazz down by three points, a visibly gassed Gordon Hayward threw a terrible inbounds pass and handed possession back to the Clippers. Chris Paul then proceeded to catch the ensuing inbounds pass and iced the game with two clutch free throws.
Hayward scored a career-high 40 points as he broke his slump from the first two games. His 21 first quarter points broke Karl Malone's record for most points by a Jazz player in a playoff quarter. However, he faded down the stretch of the game and only scored four points in the fourth quarter.
Chris Paul, on the other hand, only began to light up the scoreboard in earnest in the second half. Paul finished the night with 34 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. However, all seven of those rebounds and 23 of those points came in the second half. Paul looked to score far more often with Griffin out of the lineup. The results were nothing short of spectacular:
In a vacuum, Derrick Favors probably makes the right choice on this play. It is always a bad idea to leave DeAndre Jordan with a free lane to the rim when Chris Paul has the ball in his hands.
That being said, it is an even worse idea to let Chris Paul shoot an open three in any playoff idea. It is a worse idea still to allow Paul to take that shot with the Clippers on a 6-0 run and down by two points. Los Angeles regained the lead on this play for the first time since it was 15-14 in the first quarter, and never trailed again.
Although the Blake Griffin injury was devastating to the Clippers, this game should be remembered as an incredible duel between two incredible players. In the end, Chris Paul managed to outlast Gordon Hayward.
The 2-1 lead in the series is certainly not a death knell for Utah's chances. However, their inability to win despite fantastic games from both Hayward and Hill is a bad sign for their chances to win three of the next four games.
The Clippers might not be in the best of spirits today after the Griffin announcement. Nonetheless, they gave themselves a decided advantage in this series on the back of Chris Paul. Los Angeles will have to continue to follow Paul's lead to advance to the second round.
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