GAME REPORT

FIRST QUARTER: CLIPPERS 22, JAZZ 27

* IN REVIEW: The Clippers came out with a much better defense than in Game 1. Loy Vaught was able to frustrate Karl Malone in the paint and the Jazz pick-and-roll offense was not very effective early. However, their transition game was. Jazz fastbreaks hurt the Clippers in Game 1, and they could have been down a lot more than five if the Jazz had not blown a couple of chances. Jeff Hornacek was pesky as usual and sparked the Jazz. John Stockton had a couple of turnovers early, and only one assist, but he was sharp when he was shooting. Malik Sealy was the Clipper offense. He shot from the outside, scored on drives, drew fouls and made free throws. When he was resting near the end of the quarter, the Clipper offense stalled. Meanwhile, Malone got back on track with a little help from the referees.

* LEADING CLIPPER SCORER: Sealy, 9 points.

* LEADING JAZZ SCORER: Stockton, 9.

SECOND QUARTER: CLIPPERS 45, JAZZ 61

* IN REVIEW: Here comes Stockton again. He led the Jazz to a 16-point lead. The Clippers effectively stopped his playmaking duties (he had no assists in the quarter), but by the eight-minute mark he had 13 points and was perfect on his six field goal attempts. For a while, Lamond Murray countered for the Clippers. He had 12 points on two three-point baskets, an offensive rebound basket and three of free throws. Other than that, the Clipper offense was horrible and the Jazz steadily pulled away. Vaught got his first point on a free throw with just under five minutes left. Rogers got his first with just over two minutes left in the half. Both had more turnovers and fouls. Sealy lost his touch, dunking his only points on a sweet alley-oop pass from Brent Barry. Meanwhile, Malone was piling up points (19) and foul shots (nine of 11) with his typical hustle (and a little help from the referees).

* LEADING CLIPPER SCORER: Murray, 12.

* LEADING JAZZ SCORER: Malone, 12.

THIRD QUARTER: CLIPPERS 77, JAZZ 84

* IN REVIEW: It’s the NBA, so even the Clippers make a run. It didn’t look good: Rogers, Vaught and Murray started the quarter with three fouls each (Vaught would foul out with two minutes left in the quarter, and Rogers ended the quarter with five). Barry started for Sealy, who had food-poisoning and did not return from the locker room, and had an early steal and dunk. He sparked the Clippers to a 75-73 lead with 7:57 left in the quarter, capping a 30-12 run. But the Jazz answered by stopping Barry and Utah was fortunate that Murray had a three shots go in-and-out. Utah was much better on the boards, thanks to Malone, who had eight rebounds in the quarter after only two in the first half. It was no coincidence that the Clippers had foul trouble. Meanwhile, Malone was piling up points, despite finally facing double-team defense (and without help from the referees).

* LEADING CLIPPER SCORER: Barry, 8.

* LEADING JAZZ SCORER: Malone, 14 (and eight rebounds).

FINAL: CLIPPERS 99, JAZZ 105

* IN REVIEW: And the Jazz played on. The Jazz kept rebounding while the Clippers had another cold streak (34% in the quarter), and methodically built their lead back. It didn’t seem overwhelming, but when Stockton made a three-point shot with 3:21 left in the game, it pushed the lead back to 10. It was obvious that there was no coming back. The Clippers called a timeout after that, but Stockton stole the inbound pass. They could get no closer than the final margin of six. The Clippers’ brush with the playoffs seems just that--a sweep in the making. Meanwhile, Malone finished with 39 points (including 15 of 19 from the line).

* LEADING CLIPPER SCORER: Lorenzen Wright, 8.

* LEADING JAZZ SCORER: Malone, 6.