Jazz 102, Clippers 91
LOS ANGELES -- Forward Gordon Hayward scored 33 points and grabbed seven rebounds, allowing the Utah Jazz to snap a 13-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Clippers with a 102-91 victory on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Forward Derrick Favors added 22 points for the Jazz (7-7), who hadn't beaten the Clippers since Jan. 17, 2012, when they earned a 108-79 win. The streak was the longest by Los Angeles against any NBA foe.
Utah guard Rodney Hood scored 13 points, while center Ruby Gobert chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Raul Neto finished with 10 points and six assists.
Forward Blake Griffin scored a season-high 40 points and took 12 rebounds for the Clippers (7-8), who have dropped four of their last five decisions. Point guard Chris Paul had 24 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Forward-center Josh Smith had 10 points but was the only other Clipper to reach double figures.
A three-point play by Hayward gave Utah an 89-75 cushion with 5:32 left in the game and it managed to keep a double-digit cushion the rest of the way.
The Jazz began to seize control in the third quarter. A runner by Favors put them up 64-55 midway through the quarter. However, the Clippers rallied and sliced the deficit to 73-68 heading into the final quarter. Favors scored 10 points in the third, helping Utah make 68.8 percent of its shots to 52.6 for the Clippers.
An 18-7 surge to open the fourth by the Jazz gave them a 91-75 advantage.
The two teams were tied at 45 at the break. Griffin led all scorers with 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting. Los Angeles outshot Utah 47.5 percent to 42.2, but the Jazz outscored the Clippers 17-1 on second-chance points. They also outrebounded the Clippers 28-20 in the first half.
Overall, the Jazz shot 50 percent to 50.7 for Los Angeles.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers was pleased with the performance of F Wesley Johnson, who started for the first time Tuesday night in a 111-94 rout of the Denver Nuggets. Johnson finished with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, making three of four 3-pointers, in more than 24 minutes. "He played great," Rivers said. "He made shots. I thought in the second half he was a better defender. We know he can make shots, and he does that. But we need him to be what he was in the second half defensively." ... Utah reserve F Jeff Booker celebrated his 28th birthday. ... The Clippers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, while the Jazz play the Pelicans in Utah on Saturday.