Game 4 of Western Conference first-round matchup between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers was played on Sunday night. Vivint Smart Home Arena was fully packed once again as these two teams met in a Game 4 of this exciting playoff series. Rudy Gobert returned to starting lineup for Utah on Sunday after injuring himself just 11 seconds into Game 1. Gobert's quicker-than-anticipated return boosted the Jazz and gave them confidence heading into this matchup. Clippers were playing without Austin Rivers and Blake Griffin who is out for the remainder of this postseason due to injury to the plantar plate of his right big toe.
Big comeback in the fourth quarter for the Jazz
Although they were shorthanded in this one, the Clippers showed no fear and played good basketball early in the game. They were down 22-14 midway through the first quarter but then went on a 12-2 run to close out the first period. Clippers led 26-24 after the opening 12 minutes of the game. Utah rallied back and tied the game late in the second quarter at 47-47.
At halftime, the score was 55-52 for the home team. Neither team was able to pull away as they went back and forth. Los Angeles regained the lead after three-quarters of playing time. They held a 80-77 lead coming into the fourth quarter. Clippers' biggest lead of the game was seven points in the fourth quarter (87-80) but it wasn't enough.
Utah was on the ropes midway through the fourth quarter when Joe Johnson took over. He scored 11 straight Utah points to turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead (91-90) with 3:55 left in the game. Utah outscored Los Angeles 28-18 in the fourth quarter and won the game 105-98. They outrebounded the Clippers 42-31 and finished the game with 24 team assists.
Joe Johnson to the rescue
Five different players scored at least 10 points for Utah on Sunday. With Gordon Hayward playing only nine minutes in Game 4 due to food poisoning, it was Joe Johnson who carried Utah. Johnson came off the bench and fnished the game with 28 points, five rebounds and five assists. Johnson shot 70.6 percent from the field, the best he has ever shot in a playoff game.
He was 5-of-7 for 13 points in the fourth quarter and he scored or assisted on 22 of the last 25 Jazz points. Rodney Hood added 18 while Rudy Gobert scored 15 points for Utah.
Chris Paul led the way for the shorthanded Clippers in Game 4. He was one rebound shy of a triple-double as he finished with 27 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. Jamal Crawford contributed with 25 points off the bench.
The series is now tied at 2-2 with Game 5 to be played on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
