/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54162783/usa_today_10002714.0.jpg)
The playoffs are here, and the Jazz are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.
The Clippers paid tribute to Paul Pierce on Wednesday night, showing clips on the big screen of his 19-year career.
The teams played on four occasions in the 2016-17 season, with the Clippers winning three and the Jazz clinching one.
Look for Paul to keep the Clippers focused on forcing the tempo and pushing the ball.
Last season? They never had a chance after Paul and Blake Griffin suffered season-ending injuries in Game 4 of a first-round series against Portland.
When Nurkic scored 28 points with 20 rebounds at home this season against Philadelphia, Stotts spoke about how fans had taken to the newcomer: "Nurkic fever?"
The Clippers will have two practice days before opening the postseason against Utah.
Utah, coming off a win over National Basketball Association leader Golden State, finished the regular season with a 51-31 win-loss record. Led again by coach Doc Rivers, this team refuses to believe that their championship window has passed them by. The Jazz need to beat San Antonio on Wednesday, then hope the Clippers lose at home to the Kings in order to secure home court over said Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. The biggest issue with this matchup is the nagging knee injury that has hampered Rodney's season.
Turnovers were a problem throughout the first half, so despite solid shooting, the Spurs weren't able to gain much ground.
They do however, allow the fewest assists per game, and they ranked second in steals per game.
In fact, the Clippers have a shaky playoff home record having lost at least once at home in their last six playoff appearances, as reported by Beth Harris of the Associated Press.
David Dao Just Filed a Lawsuit Against United Airlines
The confrontation took place after the Daos learned there was not another flight that would get them to Louisville until Monday. A Chicago aviation officer dragged Dao off the aircraft, as Dao's glasses slid down his face, which was later bloodied.
"When you have as many injuries as we did, the ups and downs of the season, the length of the season, you go through a lot of adversity", Griffin said.
The Clippers' trio of All-Stars combined to score 25 of the team's 34 points in the third quarter, as L.A. turned a narrow 53-47 halftime lead into a 14-point edge entering the fourth.
"The identity has changed, the culture's changed", Cauley-Stein said. "This is like our baseline", Cauley-Stein said.
Pierce likely won't see much, if any, court time during that series, so if we have seen the last of The Truth, Clippers fans provided him a handsome farewell.
In the first two meetings, defence was at a premium. "I definitely think he can be", said Diaw. I've followed them since I was a kid, and now tell tale of John Stockton's late game heroics, and Karl Malone's thunderous jam sessions. The team went 15-26 on the road.
However, Utah point guard Exum has opened up on the clash with the Clippers, claiming the Jazz' depth will help them in the play-offs.
Executive of the Year should sit separately from other awards in that regard, though, and did two seasons ago when Myers was the surprising victor. Both of these teams won 51 games this year, but on paper it's likely that they should have had more.
With two minutes, 23 seconds left, Pierce checked into the game and the crowd roared.
Paul and Griffin are in the final year of their contracts, which include player options for 2017-18.
"It was special", Pierce said after the game.
Comments