They’ll Be Jazzed to See Trip End

The Clippers have traveled more than 3,000 miles only to lose three consecutive games, and tonight they close their four-game trip by challenging the Utah Jazz, a team that has won 20 in a row against L.A. at Salt Lake City.

Not the opponent the Clippers want to play considering they are trying to learn how to win on the road.

“We need to get over this because it seems like we wait to get down before we begin to play,” power forward Maurice Taylor said of the Clippers, who have lost six consecutive road games. “We either get a big lead and [teams] come back and we fight for the win and lose. Or they get a big lead and then we come back and make them fight for the win. . . . You can’t win like that. It takes a lot out of you, especially when you are on these long road trips. We have to go in and take the win.”

The Clippers have a lot of growing up to do. With an average age of 25 years and 65 days, they are the youngest team in the NBA. No wonder the losses pile up on the road.

“We just have to stay mentally focused and for young people today, that is the hardest part on and off the court,” said rookie Lamar Odom, who at 20 is the youngest player in the NBA.

“We can’t play in spurts like we do. In the NBA, you have to play consistent for a whole game.”

Coach Chris Ford remains upbeat about the Clippers’ play of late.

“Guys have continued to play hard,” Ford said. “I can’t fault the effort. . . . We are right there, it’s just not good enough.”

TONIGHT

at Utah, 6 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Delta Center, Salt Lake City.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 10-25, Jazz 23-11.

* Record vs. Jazz--0-1.

* Update--Utah has not lost at home to the Clippers since April 18, 1989. It leads the Midwest Division and is coming off a 10-point home victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday in which seven Jazz players scored in double figures. Clipper swingman Tyrone Nesby, who missed the last two games to be with his ailing mother in Kentucky, is expected back. Maurice Taylor is expected to play despite suffering bruised ribs Thursday in a loss at New Jersey.