Universes would inevitably collide on February 13, 2025, as the Utah Jazz — No. 2 in minutes played by first-year players in 2024-25 — welcomed a team settled among the elites in nearly every statistic regarding veteran usage. Accepting of the challenge sent his way, Kyle Filipowski made up for the difference in roster-building worldviews by taking a trip into outer space. Eager to test the L.A. Clippers’ zeal on night two of a pre-All-Star break back-to-back, Filipowski works a rookie-to-rookie pick-and-roll, parting a wide-open rim-running sea after Ivica Zubac gets warped into paint protection. Flying in from the top turnbuckle, Filipowski proves perfect in his leap timing, sending home an alley-oop flush just three minutes in a thrilling affair. Youthful and vigorous throughout, Filipowski and the Jazz gave the postseason-bound Clippers everything they could handle in a four-point loss; starring throughout, Filipowski recorded a new career-high in points (20), on elite efficiency, alongside 10 rebounds and three 3-pointers. · Feb 14, 2025