LOS ANGELES (AP) – The opening round of the NBA playoffs is down to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, the only series to be extended to seven games.
The Clippers can finish off the Jazz on Sunday and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State, which has been waiting since Wednesday to find out its next opponent.
Whoever wins won’t have any rest. The Warriors host the series opener on Tuesday.
Now in his 12th season, nine-time Clippers All-Star Chris Paul has yet to play in a conference finals.
“He is as competitive of a human being that I’ve ever been around,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “When you put that with the talent and will, that’s why he has performances like this in big games.”