{"id":2041,"date":"2016-10-31T11:06:47","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T15:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2016-10-31T11:31:47","modified_gmt":"2016-10-31T15:31:47","slug":"clippers-beat-jazz-in-home-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/10\/31\/clippers-beat-jazz-in-home-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Clippers Beat Jazz in Home Opener 88-75"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blake Griffin<\/strong><\/a> logged a double-double and Austin Rivers<\/strong><\/a> scored 19 points as the Los Angeles Clippers<\/strong> beat the Utah Jazz<\/strong> 88-75 in the Clippers’ 2016-2017 season home opener. Solid defense\u00a0was a\u00a0key factor for the Clippers in the win. The franchise is now 2-0 for the season.<\/p>\n

Clippers Beat Jazz in Home Opener 88-75<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Full game highlights:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KJvCMErhBRM&sns=em%5B<\/a><\/p>\n

Rivers and Griffin Shine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Clippers struggled to find their offensive rhythm in this midday match-up.\u00a0They shot an unimpressive 41.0% from the field and a dismal 22.2% from three-point range.\u00a0Despite these poor team statistics, Austin Rivers\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>had an impressive individual game.\u00a0He led all scorers with 19 points on 8-11 shooting.\u00a0Although\u00a0Rivers leans towards the streaky, when\u00a0he is on he is a very exciting player to watch.\u00a0Rivers is\u00a0a very skilled\u00a0ball handler with a step-back jump shot that is just about as good as it gets.\u00a0He also\u00a0brings a bit of edge and attitude to the floor that complements\u00a0the steadiness of\u00a0his veteran teammates off the bench. Fans should expect a lot\u00a0from\u00a0Rivers this season.\u00a0He’s a spark plug, and severely underrated.<\/p>\n

Blake Griffin also\u00a0played well,\u00a0recording 18 points and 10 rebounds.\u00a0Notably, Griffin’s offensive performance moved him past former Clipper Corey Maggette <\/a><\/strong>into the number 4 spot on the Clippers’ all-time points list<\/a>.\u00a0 Griffin has now scored 8,846 points as a Clipper, and at\u00a0only 27, is well on his way to becoming the number 1 scoring leader in Clipper’s history.\u00a0\u00a0On<\/span><\/span><\/span>ly Elton Brand<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>(9336), Bob McAdoo\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/span>(9434) and Randy Smith<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>(12,735) have scored more\u00a0while with\u00a0the Clippers franchise.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Maggette, who\u00a0currently works as an analyst for Fox Sports, took the news of Griffin’s accomplishment in stride.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Special shout out from @Corey_Maggette to @BlakeGriffin32<\/a> \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/unqHBr9y0C<\/a><\/p>\n

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 30, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n