Tale of Salt Lake City: Forgot About Evans

Eric Ralph, Yahoo! Contributor Network

We begin this game in progress at 76-78, Jazz lead.
History: The Jazz own the Clippers in Utah, with the last Clipper victory being 2003.

It is the fourth quarter, Jazz ball. The Jazz botch a basic lay-in, but draw the foul. It’s #0, the 19-year-old rookie who is 6-foot-11. He makes them both, 76-80.

“Money” Mo Williams drains a basket from the FT line, 78-80.

With a quick Jazz brick, Billups snatches the board and goes the length of the court – literally – ending up out of bounds. Commercial.

Back from break, Billups and Blake are on the bench, about 8 minutes are left in the fourth.

A deep 3 from Los Angeles gives the Clippers a 81-80 lead. Shortly thereafter, the Jazz sink two free throws at the 7:27 mark to regain an edge, 81-82.

C-3PO (Chris Paul) passed to Reggie Evans, who passes to another Clipper and gets it back, drawing a foul as he takes it to the rim. He makes 1 free throw to tie it, 82-82.

En route via boardwalk boring, the Jazz are receiving mountains of at home love from the referees. Dos free throws means its 82-84 Jazz.

CP3 offensive rebound, fouled on put back, makes one free throw.

Next LA possession, BGriff finds the offensive board, kicking it to C-3P0 for 3!

88-85 (don’t ask) Clippers lead after Blake does something spectacular, so special I labeled it Blake and left it at that. That’s where we leave it.

5:26 left, we are reminded of Chris Mullin’s greatness swinging in our midst with a quick gem, “Milsap lets loose.”

Next, it’s Chris Paul with 30 points and 11 assists around 4:20 to play.

92-89, 4 left.

Mo way too quick a trigger, but what do I know? “If it goes in, it’s a good shot,” says Mullin.

94-90 2:27. “Too much Chris Paul in the fourth so far.”

Milsap sinks two freebies, 94-92. Jazz with a chance, charge at the 2-minute warning. 1:28, commercial.

Mullin agrees with the charge call. Clipper ball. Paul drains it, 15-23 at this point with a season-high 34. And 11 dimes. 96-92, one minute left in regulation.

Jefferson is fouled and makes both free throws, giving the Jazz some gas but still trailing, 96-94.

Chris Paul dribbles the clock down to 35 seconds, barely coming up short on a jumper. Mo Williams soars in for the offensive rebound and is fouled by C.J. Miles. “Huge” – Mullin.

98-94 with the double sink from free throw land for Williams. 30.7 seconds left.

The Jazz don’t quit. Ever.

Jefferson jump hook. 98-96. However, they leave Griffin wide open on the ensuing inbound, letting Clipper Blake go to the hole for an AND1. He’s a beast, and is too strong to be stopped on this one. With a free throw good, it’s 101-96.

Very nice 3-point make by Utah, 101-99. 13.0 seconds left.

We are reminded that Utah is NeverNeverLand for LA, losing 42 of the last 43 here.

Free throws, both, good, 103-99.

3! C.J. Miles for Utah again from downtown in the clutch, 103-102 one point game!

Billups is fouled, magically, without time ticking. 7.0 seconds, 105-102.

Clutch foul from Paul, who fouls Devin Harris to grant no 3-point attempt to tie. 105-104. 20 second Clipper Timeout, 3.8 seconds left in the fourth.

Gomes inbounds for Lob Angeles.

Billups, Paul, Will.I.Ams, and Griffin are on the court.

2003, last win in Utah.

Williams is fouled with 3.1 seconds left “Money” drains the first FT.

107-104.

1.2 seconds, smart fouls continue on Miles, who makes the first 107-105.

Intentional miss on FT #2.

Reggie Evans gets the board and time expires!

Knowing the rebound machine would extend his claw and secure the board like he does, should the Jazz have danced with the devil?

Mull-Sauce states, Evans “Secured it.”

107-105, Clippers over Jazz, final in Utah.