LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers team that the Utah Jazz will face Tuesday night at Staples Center (8:30 p.m. MT) will look little like the team they defeated in a bruising seven-game first-round playoff series last spring.
Only five players are back from last year’s Clippers team that edged out the Jazz during the regular season before falling in the playoffs. Gone are longtime starting guards Chris Paul and J.J. Reddick along with starting forward Luc Mbah a Moute, sharpshooting sixth-man Jamal Crawford and veteran Paul Pierce.
The Jazz and Clips will play the first of four games against each other Tuesday at the same place Utah eliminated the Clippers from the playoffs last April 104-91 in a memorable Game 7.