Clippers Can’t Finish Again

Even though you can count their victories this season on two hands and a foot, the Clippers can put up a good fight on any given night.

That was the case Tuesday against Utah as the Clippers, sparked by the return of Maurice Taylor and Lamar Odom from injuries, gave the Jazz all it could handle.

But finishing off an opponent has been an issue for the Clippers and Utah made them pay dearly for a fourth quarter lapse in concentration. The Jazz used a 19-7 run to finish the game and won going away, 103-93, before 13,819 at Staples Center.

“It was great to have 12 healthy bodies out there for a change, it’s been a long time,” Clipper interim Coach Jim Todd said.

“The guys gave everything they could for 48 minutes. I kind of thought they would be able to pull it out for a while but Utah didn’t get to this level by not being able to execute.”

Power forward Karl Malone was the one constant for the Jazz, scoring a game-high 34 points and seven rebounds. Bryon Russell added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Utah (50-23), which extended its lead over San Antonio to 3 1/2 games in the Midwest Division.

The Clippers (14-60), who have lost 10 games in a row, were led by Derek Anderson’s 20 points and six rebounds. Michael Olowokandi and Taylor each added 16 points for the Clippers, who had five players score in double figures.

“The game came down to the fact we missed some shots,” said Taylor, who also had nine rebounds after sitting out five consecutive games because of an ankle injury. “I don’t think that they outplayed us. I think we played them pretty even.”

With Taylor in the starting lineup for the first time in about two weeks, the Clippers were overwhelmed early by the Jazz, who scored the game’s first 11 points.

The Clippers didn’t score until 8:40 remained in the first quarter when Taylor made a layup. Utah continued to dominate play until its lead reached 29-14 near the end of the quarter.

Once Odom entered the game late in the first quarter after sitting out three games in a row because of a left calf muscle injury, the Clippers’ energy level clearly picked up. The lackadaisical defense they started with turned into a focused effort once reserves Charles Jones, Etdrick Bohannon and Keith Closs joined Odom and Derek Anderson on the floor.

The Clippers actually held an 86-84 lead early in the fourth quarter after a dunk by Tyrone Nesby when Utah got serious. Utilizing all of Malone’s strengths, the Jazz pick-and-rolled the Clippers to death down the stretch to defeat the Clippers for the fifth consecutive time since a 23-point loss last season at the Arrowhead Pond.

“They were just more disciplined and they executed,” said Olowokandi, who also had six rebounds and four blocked shots. “They made their shots and we weren’t able to match that.”