Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Clippers took a game from the #1 seed Jazz.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kelvin Kuo/USA Today.)
Mike Conley continued to be out for the Utah Jazz. The Clippers had yet another golden opportunity fall on their laps.
It certainly helped that they were at home. After another sluggish start, the Clippers this time finally took advantage and blew the #1 seed out at Staples Center.
Donovan Mitchell survived a rough first quarter to drop 16 of his 30 points in the second quarter. But that’s when the Clippers started to pull away. Kawhi Leonard went for 34-12-5 while Paul George continues to quietly deny the narrative that he’s been awful this postseason; he scored 31. Also, Reggie Jackson (who has had a great playoffs) and Nicolas Batum (who had a very good year) each put in 17 points.
Mitchell didn’t get much support this time around, which made Utah so dangerous throughout the year. Joe Ingles did score 19 but Jordan Clarkson went 5 for 16 (14 points) and Bojan Bogdanovic only hit 2 of his 10 shots (9 points). They’re going to have to come up big in Game 4 as we still don’t know the status of Conley.
The Clippers obviously needed this as it would be quite embarrassing to go down, 3-0. And of course, they need to win Game 4 to make this a best-of-three. The Clips have been baffling this postseason; this team is very capable of winning the championship yet they’ve been down, 2-0, in both playoff series they’ve played thus far.
As for Utah? They’re gutting it out without Conley. That might catch up to them sooner or later. And that really sucks.
We’ll see come Game 4.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 12, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#1 Sixers lead #5 Hawks, 2-1.
#2 Nets lead #3 Bucks, 2-1.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#1 Jazz lead #4 Clippers, 2-1.
#2 Suns lead #3 Nuggets, 3-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
We know what Kawhi does. Defend and score. Steal and the slam.
The Klaw comin’ up with a steal & score 😤 pic.twitter.com/7RhzEyacEx
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 13, 2021
As mentioned, 34 big points by Kawhi as he helped the Clippers essentially save their season.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.