BY ERIC RALPH
We begin this snarf tale at 76-78, Jazz lead. History: The Jazz own the Clippers in Utah, with the last Clipper victory being 2003. Yikes.
It is the 4th Quarter, Jazz ball. The Jazz botch a basic lay-in, but draw the foul. It’s #0, the 19-year-old rookie who is 6’11”. 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 4th.
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 boardway boring, the Jazz are receiving Mountains of at home Mormon Melting from the Referees. Dos Free Throws means its 82-84 Jazz.
CP3 offensive rebound, fouled on put back, makes 1 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 to quick a trigger, but what do I know? “If it goes in, its a good shot” says Mullin.
94-90 2:27. “Too much Chris Paul in the 4th so far.”
Milsap sinks 2 freebies, 94-92. Jazz with a chance, charge at the 2:00 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, 1 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. 30.7s left.
The Jazz don’t quit. Ever.
Jefferson jump hook. 98-96. However, they leave Griffin wide open on the ensuing drive, 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.
G foul and game saving tackle from Paul, who fouls Devin Harris to grant no 3-point attempt to tie. 105-104. 20 second Clipper Timeout, 3.8s left in the 4th.
Here we go!
Gomes inbounds for Lob Angeles.
Billups, Paul, Will.I.Ams, and Griffin are on the court.
2003, last win in Utah, pressure on the line.
3.1 seconds left I don’t even need to watch. Money Mo Williams drain the 1st FT.
107-104.
1.2 seconds, smart fouls continue on Miles, who makes the 1st 107-105.
Intentional miss on FT #2!
Fortunately for everyone, we forgot about the unsung hero, Reggie Evans!
Knowing the rebound machine would secure the board like he does, should the Jazz have danced with the devil? Reggie Evans got the rebound and time expired, and as Mull-Sauce says, Evans “Secured it.”
107-105, Final in Utah, Clippers win!
Chris Paul had heard the questions and the numbers so many times heading into Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz that he decided to double-check them with long-time Los Angeles Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler.
After the team’s shootaround before the game, he went up to Lawler and asked him if it was true that the Clippers hadn’t won in Utah since Jan. 22, 2003 and had only won once in Salt Lake City since April 18, 1989, which was one month after Blake Griffin was born.
Lawler confirmed the numbers. He has been with the team for 33 years and has almost grown accustomed to losing in the Great Basin.
Paul then asked Lawler a favor. Paul asked Lawler to let him know of such streaks every time the Clippers play a game on the road or against an opponent that has had the Clippers’ number.
Before the game, Paul continued to rattle off the Clippers’ woeful history against the Jazz to ESPN’s Heather Cox as if to remind himself of what he was up against.
If Paul is going to change the culture of the Clippers, it will have to be done by tearing down one streak after another against teams that have routinely beat up on the Clippers over the years.
Paul’s hit list started Wednesday in Salt Lake City and he made sure the Clippers’ losing streak in Utah would not continue as he erupted for a season-high 34 points and 11 assists in a 107-105 win over the Jazz.
I USUALLY WONT PASTE THIS MUCH SHIT BUT THIS IS A SHINING MOMENT < THANKS TO Arash Markazi http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/clippers/post/_/id/472/chris-paul-checks-another-one-off-the-list