Paul assures Clippers of playing on

The opening round of the NBA playoffs is down to the Jazz and Clippers, the only series to be extended to seven games.

The Clippers can finish off the Jazz on Sunday and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors, who have been waiting since Wednesday to find out their next opponent. The Warriors host the series opener Tuesday.

Now in his 12th season, nine-time Clippers All-Star Chris Paul has yet to play in a conference finals. Paul had 28 points, eight assists, three rebounds and four turnovers while playing 38 minutes in a 98-93 win Friday.

“He is as competitive of a human being that I’ve ever been around,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “When you put that with the talent and will, that’s why he has performances like this in big games.”

Said Paul: “Doc said, ‘Go out there and give yourself a chance.’ ”

During a timeout, Paul looked over at 39-year-old teammate Paul Pierce, who plans to retire at the end of the season, his 19th.

“I saidY, `ou’re not ending your career in Utah,’ ” Paul said. “We just said we’re going to keep this thing going for him.”

With Paul doing the heavy lifting, Jamal Crawford, Luc Mbah a Moute and Austin Rivers combined to score 38 points while making up for the loss of Blake Griffin, who is out for the rest of the season with an injured big toe.

Without Griffin, Paul has been forced to carry the majority of the burden, and he appeared tired near the end of the Clippers’ loss in Game 5. Doc Rivers changed things up in Game 6 and surrounded Paul with fellow guards Crawford, Austin Rivers and Raymond Felton. “That helped a lot,” Paul said. The first six games between the fourth-seeded Clippers and No. 5 Jazz have been decided by eight points or fewer. It’s been so close that the teams, which posted 51-31 regular-season records, are averaging 98 points each.

“This series has been a roller coaster for both teams,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

Two years ago, the Clippers won an elimination game in San Antonio and came home to win Game 7 by two points in the first round. In 2014, they beat the Warriors in a Game 7 at home in the first round.