Paul shows way in fourth

SALT LAKE CITY — They were forced into survival mode of sorts because yet another injury took down Blake Griffin, leaving the Clippers short-handed at the most inopportune time in the Western Conference playoffs after the power forward went out with a bruised right big toe in the first half.

So it was on the shoulders of Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Luc Mbah a Moute and Jamal Crawford to carry the Clippers forward against the Utah Jazz in Game 3 Friday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

With Paul leading the way and showing his teammates how to hang tough in difficult circumstances, the Clippers hammered home a 111-106 victory over the Jazz.

Paul scored nine straight points during one stretch late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 34 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

His work of going 12 for 22 from the field and two for five from three-point range helped the Clippers take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series that resumes with Game 4 here Sunday night.

Perhaps more importantly, the Clippers have taken the home-court advantage back they lost by losing Game 1 at Staples Center.

Jordan had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Mbah a Moute had a playoff career-high 15 points and Crawford nine points.

After George Hill (26 points) made a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds left, Paul made two free throws with 5.3 seconds left for a 108-105 Clippers lead that finally withstood Utah’s last gasp.

The Clippers took the lead for good, 97-96, on Paul’s three-pointer with 4:01 left in the fourth.

Then his driving layup gave the Clippers a 99-96 lead and forced the Jazz to call a timeout with 3:23 left.

After Gordon Hayward, who had playoff career-high 40 points, missed a shot, Paul scored again for a 101-96 advantage.

Then Paul struck again, scoring for a 103-96 Clippers lead. Utah went more than six minutes without scoring.

Jordan made one of two free throws to keep the Clippers ahead at 104-100 with 57.1 seconds left.

After it was over, the Clippers hugged and slapped hands.

They smiled and laughed.

They were a happy bunch despite losing Griffin to his injury.

Injury update

Hold that thought about Austin Rivers, who has been sidelined because of a strained left hamstring, playing in Game 4 Sunday.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers basically put an end to his son playing in the next game.

“I don’t think so,” Doc Rivers said. “I don’t know, though. I think he thinks that for sure. He’s feeling better, I will say that. He’s working out. I just don’t see that. I think that’s awful quick. But I honestly have not asked because I was told something different from the beginning. Until someone tells me something different, we’re going to go with that.”