(Picture credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos)
Again house, the place they’ve lastly discovered some sense of solace, the Los Angeles Clippers will attempt to snap out of a three-game dropping streak once they host the Utah Jazz on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
The Clippers return to their new enviornment after dropping all three video games on a highway journey, together with back-to-back losses to the Houston Rockets. The latest of these losses got here on Friday when the Rockets earned a 125-104 victory.
Clippers main scorer Norman Powell was held to a season-low eight factors Friday, effectively beneath his season common of 23.6 per sport. Within the two video games in Houston, Powell averaged 10.5 factors, taking pictures 27.6 % from the ground and 3-of-11 from 3-point vary (27.3 %).
In a uncommon second to savor throughout the journey, Los Angeles veteran James Harden made three 3-pointers Friday to tie Ray Allen for second on the all-time listing with 2,973. Harden had 21 factors however completed with a season-low two assists. Harden averaged 8.3 assists this season.
“I assumed they did an amazing job of denying me and denying James, stopping us from initiating our motion, pushing us all the way in which to half court docket to start out our offense,” Powell mentioned. “They had been bodily. They took us out of what we wished to do.”
Nonetheless with out Kawhi Leonard (knee) this season, and with groups holding Powell and Harden in verify, Los Angeles’ highway to victory turns into restricted. The Clippers are actually on alert for his or her opponents to adapt the Rockets’ plan towards them.
“We’ll return to the lab and determine how you can get round this adjustment, particularly if groups begin doing it,” Harden mentioned.
The Jazz are beginning to emerge from a troublesome begin to the season, which they opened with a streak of six consecutive defeats. They’ve since gone 3-3, however have but to win back-to-back video games after dropping 121-117 on the highway to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Lauri Markkanen scored 25 factors for Utah, whereas Keyonte George added 19 and Collin Sexton 18. The Jazz led by 9 factors within the fourth quarter and led 116-113 with 1:54 to play, however failed to attain. only one free throw the remainder of the way in which.
Markkanen missed three straight video games with a again damage because the schedule moved to November, however has averaged 18.8 factors over the previous 4 video games.
Jazz ahead John Collins scored a team-high 17.9 factors per sport, even coming off the bench within the first 9 video games. Since becoming a member of the beginning lineup during the last three video games, he has averaged 24.3 factors.
“John did a very good job utilizing his physicality,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy mentioned. “He attacked the swap very effectively, and our group seemed for him in these moments. He was additionally capable of finding rhythm on the 3.”
Jordan Clarkson is in wonderful type after lacking two video games to start out the month with a foot damage and scored 17 factors in half-hour off the bench on Saturday. Taylor Hendricks was misplaced for the season after three video games following a ugly proper leg damage.
–Subject degree media
