Jazz Make Clutch Shots Late To Beat Clippers To Take 2-0 Series Lead
Jun 10, 2021, 11:04 PM
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives in front of Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers in Game Two of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena on June 10, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz needed some clutch plays late but was able to knock off the Los Angeles Clippers 117-111 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead.
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Donovan Mitchell led the way with 37 points to help the Jazz beat the Clippers in Game 2. Rudy Gobert added 13 points and a career playoff-high 20 rebounds and 3 blocks. Jordan Clarkson poured in 24 points off the bench. Joe Ingles dropped 19 points. The Jazz tied a franchise playoff record 20 three-pointers.
Reggie Jackson led the Clippers with 29 points. Paul George chipped in 27 points and 10 rebounds while Kawhi Leonard had 21 points.
The @utahjazz survive and beat the @LAClippers 117-111 to take a 2-0 series lead.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 37. Reggie Jackson had 29 to lead the Clippers.
Game three on Saturday in LA. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/IoiofCAoDv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 11, 2021
Donovan Mitchell Dominates First Half
Mitchell gave the Jazz a big boost to start the game. For the second consecutive game, Utah started with a 10-2 lead. The difference between Game 1 and Game 2 was that the Jazz didn’t miss 20 straight shots after that strong start in Game 2. Mitchell scored eight of the first 10 points and finished the first quarter with 14 points as the Jazz outscored the Clippers 30-29.
The second quarter was a much better one for the Jazz from Game 2 as they outscored the Clippers 36-24 and held a 66-53 lead at the halftime break. Utah hit six of their 13 attempts from beyond the arc as Mitchell dropped 13 point and Jordan Clarkson added 8 points. Through the first half, Mitchell was up to 27 points and Clarkson poured in 15.
Mitchell scored 72 points in the first six quarters of the series. In the first half for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard was the only player in double figures with 14.
The @utahjazz close the second quarter on a 14-3 run to take a 66-53 lead into the break.
Donovan Mitchell has 27 at the half. #takenote pic.twitter.com/i9hR3w1KCC
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 11, 2021
Jazz Make Clutch Shots In Fourth Quarter To Top Clippers
The Jazz were looking like they were going to run away with the game after going up by 21 points. But the Clippers made a big run midway through of 11-0 and was eventually within 8 points as Reggie Jackson had 16 points in just the third quarter.
LA was within four points on a 23-6 before Joe Ingles knocked down a three-pointer. The Clippers finished the third quarter outscoring the Jazz 33-27 but Utah was up 93-86 heading into the fourth.
The Clippers took a two-point lead in the fourth quarter when Reggie Jackson buried back-to-back threes. But an 14-2 run by the Jazz extended their lead back to 10 with under four minutes.
Donovan Mitchell hit a clutch layup in the final minute to put the Jazz up by seven.
Game 3 between the Jazz and Clippers will be on Saturday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. MT on ABC.
