Jazz Eliminated From Postseason After Second Half Collapse Against Clippers
Jun 18, 2021, 10:44 PM | Updated: Dec 9, 2022, 11:28 am
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz is defended by Terance Mann #14 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Staples Center on June 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz saw their season come to an end after suffering a second half collapse in their 131-119 loss to the Clippers in Game 6.
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The Clippers advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history with a 4-2 series win over the Jazz. Utah once had a lead of 25 points early in the third quarter.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 39 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field and 9-for-15 from the three-point line. He also had nine rebounds and nine assists. The Jazz star is the first player in NBA history to have this stat line or better in a playoff game.
The greatest Jazz player of all-time gave it his all.
39 PTS
9 REB
9 AST
9 3PTHe is the first player in NBA history with that stat line (or better) in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/XZjHbfqRT1
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 19, 2021
Royce O’Neale and Jordan Clarkson each scored 21 points.
For the Clippers, Terance Mann led them with a career-high 39 points. Paul George poured in 28 points and Reggie Jackson chipped in 27 points.
The @utahjazz season is over.
They fall to the @LAClippers 131-119.
Donovan Mitchell had 39 points, but they let a 25 point second half lead get away. Tough ending. #takenote pic.twitter.com/uJzSOjNi7j
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 19, 2021
Mitchell, Clarkson Go Off In First Half For Jazz
It was a big first quarter for Donovan Mitchell and a huge second quarter for Jordan Clarkson. In the first, Mitchell dropped 16 points while dealing with his ankle injury. He shot 6-of-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Mitchell scored 16 of Utah’s 33 points in the first quarter as they held a 33-31 lead.
Terance Mann kept the Clippers in the game with 12 points in the first quarter. Marcus Morris and Paul George added seven points apiece. The Jazz were very efficient shooting the ball, going 53 percent from the field and 6-of-9 from the three-point line.
In the second quarter, Jordan Clarkson came in and scored 17 straight points. He finished with 21 points, all scored in the second. The Jazz had everything going for them by outscoring the Clippers 39-19 and had a 72-50 lead at the half.
The @utahjazz hang 72 points on the @LAClippers and lead by 22 at the half.
Donovan Mitchell has 22 points for the Jazz and Jordan Clarkson has 21. pic.twitter.com/Celp27V2bZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 19, 2021
Clippers Take Lead, Series With Second Half Barrage
The Jazz couldn’t do much to shut down the Clippers’ offense in the third quarter. Utah went ice cold, hitting 38 percent from the field and 4-of-13 from the three-point line. LA couldn’t miss as they shot 71 percent (15-21) from the floor and 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. Terance Mann had 20 points in the quarter while Reggie Jackson added 14 points.
Donovan Mitchell had just 8 points to lead the Jazz in the third. The Jazz lead was just three, 94-91 heading into the fourth quarter.
It was much of the same in the fourth quarter as Mann was up to 39 points midway through the final period. LA had a 10-point lead with two minutes left and coasted to the win.
The Jazz season comes to an end with a 52-20 record, which was the best in the NBA during the regular season.
