Tough one for Jazz
3-point shots from the one that almost got away from the Utah Jazz, then didn’t, then almost did again, then didn’t for good:
POINT 1: Best quote that didn’t make it into Sunday’s paper after Utah’s come-from-behind 109-107 victory over the Clippers came from Deron Williams, who hit the game-winning bucket on a strong drive with 6.8 seconds remaining in double overtime.
Williams: “This would have been a tough one if we would have lost it. I might have cried. I’m glad we won … seriously.”
Williams set a new career-high in minutes played, logging 54 of 58 minutes in this draining doozy, so you can understand his emotional attachment to the outcome from that effort.
The All-Star finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
POINT 2: Don’t expect Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson to be sending the Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman Christmas cards anytime soon. Those four battled it out pretty intensely Saturday night, which hopefully sets the stage for some fun heavyweight rematches.
Great quote No. 2 from Jefferson about Griffin, who missed both OTs after picking up his sixth foul with 2:28 remaining in regulation:
“It was a fight, Blake Griffin and those guys – I was so happy when he fouled out. I’ve never been so excited about something in my life because that boy, he’s amazing. He’s amazing. I take my hat off to him.”
For the record, combined the four: Scored 82 points, hauled in 47 rebounds, blocked seven shots, were whistled for 20 fouls and weigh 1,042 pounds.
The Jazz travel to L.A. in three Sundays to take on the Clippers, the best 1-6 team in the NBA, at Staples Center.
POINT 3: The Jazz definitely came out of the locker room with more oomph after halftime than they did to begin the game. It was their third game in four nights and they didn’t arrive in Salt Lake City until about 2 a.m. Saturday after their late Friday night game.
“We didn’t come out very good in the first half,” Williams said. “We were able to regain it in the second half. Played better, had more energy. It just took us a while to get going.”
But everything from their passing, to screening, executing and shooting was better in the second half when Utah fought all the way back from their early 18-point deficit and eventually fought off the feistier-than-usual Clippers.
This L.A. is now 1-37 at EnergySolutions Arena, where it’s lost 15 straight and hasn’t left victorious since 2003.