The Clippers have flirted with postseason elimination before and came out on top. Now, against Jazz they are likely to repeat the same.
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The LA Clippers are living dangerously in these playoffs. They fell behind 2-0 in each of their first two series. Yet, here they are taking back control in the nick of time again, defeating the Jazz 118-104 on Monday to even their second-round series 2-2, just as they did against the Mavericks in the first round.
All the momentum has swung the Clippers’ way. Kawhi Leonard, who has arguably been the best player in this postseason, was fantastic on both ends, finishing with 31 points. Paul George has been terrific this postseason. He too finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He is attacking with force and shooting with confidence.
? 31 PTS / 7 REB / 2 STL / 1 BLK
All business for @kawhileonard. pic.twitter.com/IaDljMH1Qf
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 15, 2021
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have each scored at least 20 points in all 11 games this postseason. They are just the third duo in NBA history to do that in a team’s first 11 playoff games and the first since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant with the Lakers in 2003.
Third duo in NBA history to each score 20+ points in their team’s first 11 games of the postseason. pic.twitter.com/SgtTxFJ38U
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 15, 2021
In the first half, the game was decided. The Clippers were adamant Donovan Mitchell was not going to beat them. They trapped, doubled, collapsed on his drives and forced the Utah shooters to hit shots. Utah took 60 percent of its first-half shots from beyond the arc, making just 33 percent of them. Mitchell was forced behind the line as well, taking 10 of his 14 first-half shots from three-point land. He made just three of those 10.
Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 37 points, making him the first player since Golden State’s Stephen Curry in 2019 to have six straight 30-point games in the playoffs. Joe Ingles added 19 and Bojan Bogdanovic 18 for the Jazz. They have now lost back-to-back playoff games for the first time this year.
6 straight 30+ point games for @spidadmitchell ?#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/FgOGaxnubb
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 15, 2021
Mitchell and the Jazz made their three-point numbers look better by the end of the game, but the damage was done early. Mitchell didn’t get much of any scoring help when he needed it in the first half. By the time Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic found their rhythm, the deficit was into the 20s.
There are no more secrets in this series. Each team has shown its hand, laid out its winning formula, and now we see who executes better with it all on the line.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.
