The most noticeable trend in the Utah Jazz–LA Clippers series has been how teams have survived when a key player left the game due to injury or illness.
The Jazz survived the loss of Rudy Gobert in Game 1. The Clippers did likewise when Blake Griffin departed Game 3. And the Jazz won Game 4 after Gordon Hayward exited due to food poisoning.
The Jazz losing Hayward was Joe Johnson’s gain. He continued his turn-back-the-clock tour by going 12-of-17 from the field for 28 points in a season-high 35 minutes.