“There is a fool’s gold element. I think ... that’s the case for us. We have to approach the preseason differently than a lot of teams, certainly than this team. It’s been important for us to compete, not that other people don’t compete." – -Quin Snyder
LOS ANGELES — While the Utah Jazz have infused their fanbase with excitement and hope with their unexpected success this preseason, they’ve also managed to catch the attention of one of the most respected basketball gurus in the world.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers admitted he’s “very impressed” with what he sees from Utah.
And Rivers said that before the Jazz gave his team another huge challenge Friday night at Staples Center before the Clippers finally won their first game of the preseason, 101-97 in a down-to-the-wire nail-biter that didn't feel like an exhibition contest.
“I like what they’re doing. I like their offense and their energy that they’re playing with,” Rivers said in his pregame interview. “They’re long, athletic and they have a lot of guys that can put the ball on the floor. I was really impressed with the players and the system — it’s a perfect fit with the way they’re playing.”
Despite playing on the second night of a road back-to-back, the youthful Jazz played with that exuberance yet again against the physical and high-flying Clippers.
The Clippers, winners of 57 games in 2013-14, had their hands full with the Jazz, who are playing like a completely different squad under new coach Quin Snyder than during last year’s 25-57 campaign with Tyrone Corbin.
Four days after running away from the Clippers 102-89 in Salt Lake City, the Jazz were in this contest all the way until the end.
Gordon Hayward scored 22 points with six rebounds and four assists, and he gave the Jazz an 88-87 lead with a 3-pointer with four minutes remaining.
The two teams battled back and forth after that, with Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford each hitting go-ahead 3-pointers for the Clippers in the final 42 seconds.
Crawford's long ball with 18.5 seconds remaining was the final dagger for Utah, which lost for the first time in the preseason.
Center Derrick Favors put the Jazz up 92-89 with a layup and then tied it at 95 after splitting a pair of free throws. Favors finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his strong preseason.
Point guard Trey Burke, who had 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, missed 1 of 2 late foul shots with the Jazz down by three. He then hit two after a game-clinching slam dunk by Spencer Hawes.
Though Utah continues to play well this preseason, Snyder said his team isn’t getting caught up with exhibition success.
“There is a fool’s gold element. I think ... that’s the case for us," Snyder said. "We have to approach the preseason differently than a lot of teams, certainly than this team. It’s been important for us to compete, not that other people don’t compete."
Things got quite chippy in the third quarter between the teams who were playing for the second time in five days.
Clippers star Blake Griffin (17 points) was charging toward the basket on a fast break when Jazz backup power forward Trevor Booker reached across his face to smack the ball away.
The 6-10, 251-pound Griffin took exception to the hard foul by Booker, a feisty 6-8, 230-pounder. Griffin reached out and grabbed the back of Booker’s head, and the two appeared to be about to start throwing punches when teammates broke them up.
Booker was assessed with a flagrant penalty-1, giving Griffin two technical free throws. The Jazz forward stayed in for a few plays but later left and didn’t return because of a sprained right ankle.
The Clippers surged back ahead of the Jazz a few minutes later after rookie Rodney Hood was called for a foul on a made 3-pointer by sharpshooter Jamal Crawford. That play ignited L.A., which went on a 9-0 run to take a one-point lead.
Rookie Dante Exum fared much better against the Clippers this time around. The 19-year-old scored nine points with two assists, two steals and zero turnovers. On Monday, Exum turned the ball over eight times against Paul and Co.
Crawford scored 25 points and Hawes added 24 to lead the Clippers.
NOTES: Hood fouled out early in the fourth quarter. ... Jazz guard Alec Burks didn't play again because of a left shoulder contusion. ... Center Enes Kanter went 0 for 2 from 3-point range and has now missed eight straight from beyond the arc since hitting his first of the season. ... The Jazz finish the Southern California portion of their four-game road trip against the Lakers on Sunday at Staples Center. ... Jazz center Rudy Gobert was assessed with two technical fouls.
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