Clippers’ Paul Pierce came up with vintage performance at Utah

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Paul Pierce was having a rather lousy time of it before Saturday’s game at Utah. He was averaging just 4.0 points while playing 16.1 minutes per game for the Clippers. He was shooting a miserable 30.6 percent from the field – 24.7 (19 of 77) from 3-point range.

Pierce is 38, so the first thing that comes to mind is his legs are gone and he’s done. But Pierce reached back Saturday and came through with a vintage Pierce performance. He scored 20 points in a 109-104 victory over the Jazz, shooting 6 of 11 overall – 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.

That his effort came with Blake Griffin (partially torn quad tendon) unable to play, made it that much more clutch.

Coach Doc Rivers certainly liked it.

“It was the first time he had a lot of minutes in a row, too,” Rivers said of Pierce, who played 27 minutes. “I think part of it is on me as it is him, and I have been saying that all year. But it has to help his confidence. It will help him get in better rhythm with our guys.”

PIerce was stoked, as well.

“I’m not the go-to scorer I was years back where you give it to me in isolation, but I do a good job playing off our stars,” Pierce said. “That is what I was able to do today. I was out there with J.J. (Redick), Chris (Paul) and DJ (DeAndre Jordan) and they take most of the attention. I was able to advantage of that.”