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Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES >> Blake Griffin’s dramatic improvement with his free throw shooting has added an important dynamic to the Los Angeles Clippers’ offense — particularly in the fourth quarter, when teams used to intentionally send him to the line because he missed more often than not.
Griffin scored a season-high 40 points, overcoming early foul trouble and a career-worst eight turnovers to lead the Clippers to a 98-90 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
“I looked at the stat sheet after the game and I said, ‘Wow, he had 40.’ I think his confidence right now is pretty high, and rightfully so,” teammate Chris Paul said. “It’s great to see how he’s dominated games, whether he’s taking jump shots, posting up or going to the free throw line. It’s fun to watch. I wouldn’t know how to guard him.”
Griffin made his first 12 free throws and finished 14 for 17 from the foul line. The three-time All-Star, who entered this season a 61.1 percent career free throw shooter, has made 80.6 percent of his attempts over his last eight games and raised his season mark to 70 percent.
“The first 12 I felt good. I was a little disappointed when I missed the next one,” Griffin said. “It’s just the confidence to step up and make free throws. It comes from the work I’ve put in with my shooting coach, Bob Tate. He’s stayed on me and he’s given me confidence. I’m just trying to make it one motion, be a little more compact and finish a little bit higher.
“Towards the end of last year I started shooting a little bit better from the free throw line, so I felt confident getting to the line,” he added. “I started out a little shaky at the beginning of this season, but just putting in the time, it gradually comes back. It’s allowing me to attack a little bit more. I almost welcome those fouls.”
Paul had 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles. Shooting guard Jamal Crawford missed his first five shots and finished 4 for 16 with 13 points after averaging 20 points and 40.3 percent shooting from the field in seven games after he was inserted into the starting lineup.
The Clippers, coming off a pair of narrow road losses to Golden State and Portland — the latter in overtime — haven’t lost three in a row this season.
Enes Kanter had 17 points off the bench for the Jazz, including a 16-footer with 4:20 remaining — their last field goal of the game. Utah’s 9-24 record is the second-worst in the NBA and just 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee.
Derrick Favors, who made the game-winning dunk off an offensive rebound in the final seconds of Utah’s 105-103 home win over the languishing Lakers on Friday night, had four points and nine rebounds during 22 foul-plagued minutes before fouling out with 1:19 to play.
“I can’t say enough about our guys coming out after last night and the effort we had tonight,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “We made some mistakes down the stretch, but our performance overall is getting better and more consistent. I’m pleased with that.”
The Clippers closed it out with an 8-0 run triggered by Griffin’s go-ahead dunk with 2:25 remaining.
“We got stops. That’s really what the game came down to,” Griffin said. “They played hard and kept running their stuff, and they kept hitting shots. Then we locked in, and that was the difference.”
Utah led 43-42 at halftime despite 11 turnovers that were converted into 15 points. The Clippers, who committed a season-low six turnovers in Thursday night’s loss to the Trail Blazers, had four in the first 1 1/2 minutes against the Jazz and finished with 13. Three of the early miscues were by Griffin, whose second foul landed him on the bench with 7:54 left in the opening quarter.
“I think I’m learning how to take what the game gives you and not trying to force anything — except for the eight turnovers I made tonight, unfortunately,” Griffin said. “I was going for the triple-double.”
Los Angeles missed all six shots from 3-point range before the break, the third time this season the Clippers were blanked from behind the arc in an entire half. They didn’t connect from long range until their seventh attempt, when Crawford drained one from the right elbow 14 seconds into the third quarter for his first field goal of the game.
The Clippers have beaten Utah seven straight times, after losing 11 of the previous 12 meetings. The winning streak matches their longest against the Jazz (Nov. 3, 1979 to Dec. 20, 1980).
NOTES: Griffin became the fourth player to score at least 30 points against the Jazz, joining Kevin Durant (42), James Harden (37) and LeBron James (30). … Paul’s 111 double-doubles are the most by any point guard since the start of the 2010-11 season. Next on that list is Deron Williams of the Nets.
