CLIPPERS vs. JAZZ IN 1997

Nov. 2: Jazz 95, Clippers 90--One night after beginning the season with an eight-point victory at Golden State, the Clippers look flat and lose their home opener. The Clippers can’t check Karl Malone, who gets 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Nov. 29: Jazz 111, Clippers 94--Clipper Coach Bill Fitch starts Darrick Martin in place of Pooh Richardson in an attempt to break a four-game losing streak. Jazz guard John Stockton outscores Martin, 28-18, as the Jazz extend its home-court winning streak to 13 games against the Clippers. Center Stanley Roberts, who has trouble playing at high altitudes because of asthma, misses eight of 11 shots in 33 minutes.

Dec. 30: Clippers 115, Jazz 101--With former UCLA coach Jim Harrick looking on from a courtside seat next to owner Donald T. Sterling in the Sports Arena, Martin gets a career-high 38 points and eight assists as the Clippers end a five-game losing streak. Martin maintains afterward that he wasn’t motivated by the presence of Harrick, who demoted him from the Bruin starting lineup at the start of his senior season.

March 22: Jazz 107, Clippers 94--Malone makes nine of 11 shots and scores 19 points in 18 minutes of the first half as the Jazz builds a 21-point second-quarter lead at the Delta Center. “It was very competitive in the first quarter and all of a sudden [Malone] starts delivering Christmas mail early,” Fitch says.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

CLIPPERS vs. UTAH JAZZ

* Game 1: Thursday at Utah, 7:30

* Game 2: Saturday at Utah, 5:30

* Game 3: April 28, Sports Arena, 7:30

* Game 4: April 30, Sports Arena, TBA*

* Game 5: May 4 at Utah, TBA*

* if necessary