Los Angeles @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 20, 2018 ) L.A. Clippers 113, Utah 125

The Los Angeles Clippers have no margin for error with four games remaining in the regular season when it comes to landing a Western Conference playoff spot. Los Angeles resides in 10th place in the West as it visits the scorching-hot Utah Jazz on Thursday.

Los Angeles recovered from a 19-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday to keep its postseason aspirations alive. "Backs against the wall," shooting guard Lou Williams said in a postgame television interview after the contest. "We've been a resilient group dealing with so many injuries. We're relying on guys who weren't even part of our team earlier in the season. That's just been our makeup. We know we have to win out to give us an opportunity." The Jazz won 26 of their past 31 games but haven't yet clinched a playoff spot, and coach Quin Snyder is tired of hearing the playoff chatter. "Our focus needs to be better," Snyder told reporters after Tuesday's 117-110 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers. "All I have heard is the playoffs and we are in the playoffs. We aren't in the playoffs. There is no 'X' next to our name in the standings, so we need to play with more urgency and more focus."

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

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (42-36): Coach Doc Rivers was thrilled about his team's comeback against the Spurs as a defeat would have been close to a death knell per the postseason chances. "It was my favorite win of the season," Rivers told reporters afterward. "We had no choice. If we quit on the game, we quit on the season. We had nothing to lose or be discouraged about. They're one of the best defensive teams in the league and to do it against them is big." Williams was struggling through a poor outing before he tallied 15 fourth-quarter points to finish with 22 while recording his third straight 20-point outing.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (45-33): Point guard Ricky Rubio was superb against the Lakers by scoring 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting and also recording eight assists and six rebounds. Rubio had a reputation as a poor shooter during six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves but has proven to be a better fit for the Utah offense and is averaging 20.6 points over the past seven games. "He was taking the right shots," Snyder said. "There have been times where we have talked to Ricky about it, where he needs to score when the play and the game presents itself to him."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Jazz are 2-1 versus the Clippers this season after losing 18 of the previous 20 regular-season meetings.

2. Los Angeles F Tobias Harris scored 31 points against the Spurs and is averaging 22.8 points over the past four games.

3. Utah C Rudy Gobert collected 16 rebounds against the Lakers and is averaging 13 over the past five contests.

PREDICTION: Jazz 113, Clippers 112