The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers: Keys to a much-needed home win

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Austin Rivers #25 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz on November 30, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Austin Rivers #25 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz on November 30, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz will look to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to the New York Knicks last night as they host the LA Clippers tonight in a rare home back-to-back.

The Utah Jazz have been horrible on the road this season with a record of just 5-18. However, they did manage to earn a road victory on Wednesday as they handily defeated the Sacramento Kings by a score of 120-105. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to match that effort back on their home court last night as they fell to the New York Knicks in a heartbreaking 117-115 defeat.

And with that being the case, it’s become sad but true that the Jazz have been almost equally as bad at home as on the road! Not only are they just a middling 13-9 at Vivint Smart Home Arena this season, but their last home win came on December 30th against the Cleveland Cavaliers, meaning Utah has now dropped three straight home contests, all against beatable opponents.

That’s not a good sign at all for Utah’s already dwindling playoff hopes.

Nevertheless, they’ll look to turn things around this evening as they host the LA Clippers for the third time this season. For a while, with an onslaught of injuries and poor chemistry, it appeared that the Clippers were destined to stumble their way into the lottery this season. However, they’ve since turned it around and have absolutely been on fire of late after winning six games in a row and eight of their last ten.

Thanks to their recent play, LA now finds themselves in eighth place in the Western Conference with a respectable 23-21 record, good for 5.5 games ahead of the Jazz. The Jazz were able to handily defeat the Clippers 126-107 in their last meeting, forcing a series split on the season, but this is a revamped team since that game so this will be no easy contest. If Utah hopes to take the series lead and finally get back on track at home, they’ll need to step up their game significantly in these three key areas.

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