Clippers G Rivers expected back for Game 5

The Cavs will play the victor of the tied series between the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks, who feature former Cavs' guard Matthew Dellavedova and another Aussie, Thon Maker. But the team reportedly will receive a boost to its backcourt for Game 5 against the Utah Jazz.

But really? The fulcrum for this game was Rudy Gobert.

It's unfortunate because Griffin did have a resurgent year with 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

"That's not true", he said. "I was feeling good. And it put a lot of pressure on our offense". The seven-time All-Star (trademarked name) finished with 28 points (on 17 shots), five rebounds and five assists while jumping quickly into the time machine and Rodney Hood added 18 (very) important points in 35 minutes off the bench.

The Utah Jazz hope to steal another road game to snag a solid 3-2 series lead heading back home. "The foul trouble hurt us". (He'd finish with 25 points, on 9 of 12 shooting.) But Johnson kept using his 240 pounds to back down his man-the increasingly skeletal Crawford, or Pierce, or Luc Mbah a Moute-steadily grind his way into the paint, and nail turnarounds and neat little floaters. "I think the series gets harder and harder each game". "The ball didn't bounce my way but we were up 2-1 so I didn't care".

The most noticeable trend in the Utah Jazz-LA Clippers series has been how teams have survived when a key player left the game due to injury or illness.

Getting Austin Rivers back will be a step in the right direction. The Clips went on a 15-0 run to put away the Jazz, riding Paul's 34 points, the most he's scored since dropping 40 on February 26, 2016.

Clippers G Rivers expected back for Game 5

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert shoots during practice before Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, April 23, 2017, in Salt Lake City. He would look great in that 10-15 minute role that Pierce has been playing if Coach Rivers would just lose the nostalgia and try to win this series in the present. "It's not often you find a guy that has that combination of skill, as far as his ability to handle the ball and make plays. That's not what he should do".

"It's going to get better everyday", Gobert said.

Gobert returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a left knee hyperextension and bone contusion suffered 17 seconds into Game 1.

"It's not like we change the way we play", he said.

"Give (the Jazz) credit". Utah mounted its fourth-quarter comeback with the 7-foot-1 Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner on the bench for all but five minutes of the period. They have a ton more playoff experience and a head coach who has won NBA Championships and I know some of you reading this think well this doesn't matter.

Griffin was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs after injuring his big toe during Friday night's win against the Jazz. At one point, Johnson scored 11 straight points to help the Jazz overcome what was a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter.