Dec. 30--The Clippers, who entered Monday's game having lost three of their last four games, beat the Utah Jazz, 101-97, at Staples Center.
With less than two minutes left in the game, DeAndre Jordan tipped the ball into the basket to put the Clippers ahead by three points, 99-96. Jazz forward Derrick Favors then missed a pair of free throws with 31.6 seconds left.
On the Clippers' next possession, Rodney Hood immediately fouled Jamal Crawford, who proceeded to make one of his two free throws with 24.2 seconds left, making it a four-point game, 100-96.
Blake Griffin fouled Hood with 13.2 seconds left -- he made one free throw, cutting the Jazz's deficit to three, 100-97. Griffin was then fouled and went on to make one of two free throws to restore the Clippers' lead to four, 101-97, with 8.7 seconds left.
Griffin led the Clippers with 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Chris Paul had 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. Jordan had 19 rebounds to go along with five points. This is Jordan's 10th game in December with at least 15 rebounds.
Spencer Hawes returned to the court Monday after sitting out nine games because of a bone bruise in his left knee. He finished with two points on one-for-four shooting in 12 minutes of play.
The Clippers outshot the Jazz from the field, 45.7% to 41.3%.
The Jazz, however, outrebounded the Clippers, 52-41. They also had 44 points in the paint while the Clippers had only 18.
The game featured 10 lead changes and 15 ties, with the Clippers leading by as many as 10 points and the Jazz leading by as many as five.
Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 22 points and seven assists.
The Clippers have beaten the Jazz 12 consecutive times since a 108-79 loss on Jan. 17, 2012.
