Scouting Report: CLIPPERS vs.UTAH JAZZ, Western Conference Quarterfinals

By CHRIS BAKER

April 24, 1997 12 AM PT

About the Clippers: They’re making their first playoff appearance in four years and their third since moving to Los Angeles in 1984. The Clippers took the Jazz to five games in the first round of the 1992 playoffs, losing by nine points in the deciding game at the Delta Center. Only one Clipper, Loy Vaught, remains from that team. The Clippers lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 1993 playoffs. Guard Darrick Martin had a career-high 38 points in a 14-point victory over the Jazz on Dec. 30 at the Sports Arena. Martin, excluding his big game, averaged 10.3 points and 2.3 assists and shot 44.4%. Only four Clippers have playoff experience--Vaught, Rodney Rogers, Malik Sealy and Pooh Richardson. Coach Bill Fitch, who put the team through an extensive workout Monday at the Sports Arena, isn’t letting up. The Clippers practiced for 2 1/2 hours Wednesday at the Delta Center.

About the Jazz: They set franchise records for victories (64) and home victories (38). They had the NBA’s best record after the All-Star break, 31-4, including a 14-game winning streak. Forward Karl Malone is ranked among the league leaders in scoring (27.4) and rebounding (9.9). Point guard John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, averaged 10.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Stockton averaged 19.8 points, nine assists and shot 68.9% as the Jazz won three of four games from the Clippers. The Jazz led the league in field-goal percentage (.504) and shared the league scoring lead (103.1) with the Chicago Bulls. The Jazz is making its 14th consecutive playoff appearance, the second-longest streak in the NBA behind the Portland Trail Blazers, who are making their 15th consecutive appearance.

Keys to the game: The Clippers need good production from guards Malik Sealy and Darrick Martin, who were scoreless in Saturday’s season-ending loss at Seattle. Vaught needs help checking Malone, who averaged 20.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and shot 57.4% against the Clippers. Center Lorenzen Wright, who averaged seven points and 4.3 rebounds in three games against Utah, needs to play a bigger offensive role. Clipper reserves must contribute against a deeper Utah bench that includes Antoine Carr.

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ROSTERS/STATISTICS: CLIPPERS

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No. Player Pts. FG% FT% Reb. Ast. 2.Richardson 5.6 .381 .605 1.7 2.9 7.Murray 7.4 .416 .739 3.1 0.8 15.Martin 10.9 .407 .872 1.4 4.1 21.Sealy 13.8 .396 .876 3.0 2.1 24.Dehere 6.4 .386 .824 1.3 2.2 26.Manning 2.9 .390 .643 1.5 0.1 31.Barry 7.5 .409 .817 1.9 2.6 35.Vaught 14.9 .500 .702 10.0 1.3 43.Outlaw 7.6 .609 .504 5.5 1.9 52.Piatkowski 6.0 .450 .821 1.6 0.8 54.Rogers 13.2 .462 .663 5.1 2.7 55.Wright 7.3 .481 .587 6.1 0.6

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ROSTERS/STATISTICS: JAZZ

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No. Player Pts. FG% FT% Reb. Ast. 00.Ostertag 7.3 .515 .678 7.3 0.4 3.Russell 10.8 .479 .701 4.1 1.0 10.Eisley 4.5 .451 .787 1.0 2.4 12.Stockton 14.4 .548 .846 2.8 10.5 14.Hornacek 14.5 .482 .899 2.9 4.4 31.Keefe 3.8 .513 .689 3.5 0.5 32.Malone 27.4 .550 .755 9.9 4.5 34.Morris 4.3 .408 .722 2.2 0.6 40.Anderson 5.9 .462 .687 2.8 0.8 43.Howard 3.6 .574 .642 1.7 0.2 44.Foster 3.5 .453 .831 2.4 0.4 55.Carr 7.4 .483 .780 2.4 0.5

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CLIPPER STARTERS

No. 15: Darrick Martin, Guard

No. 21: Malik Sealy, Guard

No. 55: Lorenzen Wright, Center

No. 35: Loy Vaught, Forward

No. 54: Rodney Rogers, Forward

JAZZ STARTERS

No. 12. John Stockton, Guard

No. 14. Jeff Hornacek, Guard

No. 00. Greg Ostertag, Center