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Against the L.A. Clippers, Joe Johnson was there when the Jazz needed him.

But going down 3-0 to the Golden State Warriors, Johnson — and the rest of Utah's bench — has had a tougher time answering the call.

That was clear in a 102-91 loss at Vivint Smart Home Arena, in which the Jazz came up short in the fourth quarter. While each starter had at least double figures in the scoring column, the five Utah players who came off the bench collectively had 10.

Specifically two players who were critical in closing big games against the Clippers struggled: Johnson was 3 for 12 from the field (7 points), while Rodney Hood made only one of his eight shots (3 points).

In a somber Jazz locker room, Johnson said part of it was Golden State's defense, one of the best in the league this year. But part of it was missing the looks they got.

"They just switch everything, man — they make you play tough running the basketball," he said. "We had our fair share of moments. Late, I thought we had a few great looks, just didn't make them."

It hasn't always been this way. In these playoffs, the Jazz are averaging the second-most bench points (34.9 ppg) behind only the Houston Rockets. Johnson starred in that role against the Clippers, notably scoring the game-winner in Game 1, then notching 28 points in Game 4 to help win without an ill Gordon Hayward.

This series, against a variety of defenders, Johnson has yet to shoot better than 40 percent from the floor. After starting the first two games, Johnson came off the bench — but it didn't rekindle his offense.

"It don't matter," he said about his preference on starting. "I just want to play."

Utah's bench production against the Warriors has been further hampered by injury: George Hill's troublesome toe led Shelvin Mack to start. Coach Quin Snyder praised Mack's play, as the point guard finished with 11 points and five assists (albeit on 3-for-11 shooting). Backups Raul Neto and Dante Exum accounted for less than five minutes.

As for Hood, the postseason has been troublesome, as his scoring and shooting have both dropped. But Snyder said he possessed confidence that the second-year wing will find his way — the Jazz need him and the rest of the bench to do so quickly with a do-or-die game approaching.

His advice? Keep firing.

"What I've said with Rodney all along is keep being aggressive, keep attacking, keep shooting," Snyder said. "The message is going to be the same. Nights like tonight, sometimes they stick with you, you remember them, and they make you better."

kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon