Los Angeles @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2017 ) Utah 126, L.A. Clippers 107

The Los Angeles Clippers look to extend their season-best winning streak to seven games when they visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Los Angeles has won 12 of its past 15 games despite dealing with significant injury issues throughout the campaign.

Power forward Blake Griffin has six 20-point outings in the nine games he has played since returning from a knee injury but forward Danilo Gallinari (glute) has missed 33 of the past 35 contests and defensive stalwart guard Patrick Beverley (knee) was lost for the season in November. "With the injuries, it's been hard to look ahead, and maybe that's good in a lot of ways, because we don't know who's playing, who's healthy, who's not," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "In some ways that might be a good formula for us. We can't afford to look past 'tonight.' Then we go on to the next game." Utah continues to fall out of contention in the Western Conference playoff race with 16 defeats in the past 21 games. The Jazz suffered a 117-115 setback against the New York Knicks on Friday despite center Rudy Gobert scoring a season-high 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds in his return from a 15-game absence because of a bruised tibia and sprained knee.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (23-21): Shooting guard Lou Williams has carried Los Angeles over recent weeks and is getting promoted as an All-Star candidate because of his career-best 23.2 average. Williams recorded 13 straight 20-point outings - scoring 30 or more eight times, including a career-best 50-point performance - before being limited to 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting in Wednesday's 109-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Point guard Milos Teodosic scored a season-best 15 points against the Nuggets and is a solid 12-of-23 from 3-point range over the past four contests.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (18-27): Utah has struggled without Gobert and the Jazz will watch his minutes closely on the back end of consecutive games despite his strong showing Friday. "I thought he had some really good moments," coach Quin Snyder told reporters after Friday's loss. "Unfortunately, collectively, we didn't on defense in the second half. That cost us the game." Standout rookie guard Donovan Mitchell struggled with 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting against the Knicks after having 34 points on 14-of-19 shooting versus the Sacramento Kings two nights earlier.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings earlier this season but the Clippers have won 19 of the past 22 matchups.

2. Utah SG Alex Burks, who had nine double-digit outings in December, is averaging only 5.8 points in January and hasn't gotten off the bench in three of the past four games.

3. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan (ankle) will miss his fourth consecutive contest, while G Austin Rivers (heel) will sit out his 11th straight game.

PREDICTION: Clippers 107, Jazz 100