Art Thompson's report on Utah's win over the L.A. Clippers.

"It was a game the Clippers had to have if their dying playoff hopes were to have any life.

After Saturday night's 105-92 loss to the Utah Jazz at Staples Center, the Clippers are not mathematically eliminated from the Western Conference playoff chase, but their chances are remote after they fell to the eighth-place Jazz for the 13th consecutive time.

"Until we're mathematically eliminated, we're still going to play as though we have a chance to get in, because we do," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said.

You might say the Clippers fumbled away an opportunity to put the heat on Utah, because a Clippers victory would have shaved the Jazz lead over the Clippers to 2 1/2 games for the final playoff spot."