Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson celebrates after hitting a three-point shot during the first half in Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday, June 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Utah Jazz owned the first half, but the Los Angeles Clippers owned the second, and ultimately the game and the series.
A 39-point explosion from second-year guard Terance Mann led the Clippers back from a 25-point third-quarter deficit on their way to a 131-119 over the Jazz, not to mention a 4-2 Western Conference second-round playoff series win.
The third-quarter comeback
Down 25 at one point of the third quarter, Terance Mann’s scorching shooting led the Clippers back to within six late in the third quarter. The Jazz led after the third quarter, 94-91.
Donovan Mitchell has 28 points through three quarters
Donovan Mitchell might be playing hurt with a sprained right ankle, but it hasn’t mattered. Midway through the third quarter, he was up to 28 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.
Rudy takes a hard fall
Rudy Gobert took a hard fall midway though the first quarter after biting on a pump-fake at the rim. He initially stayed in the game, but briefly went to the locker room. He eventually re-entered, but he is clearly laboring with what appears to be a hip injury.
Terance Mann starts off hot
Clippers guard Terance Mann, starting for the second consecutive game in place of the injured Kawhi Leonard, scored 10 of his team’s first 12 points, including a nasty follow-up dunk over Rudy Gobert.
Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell start Game 6 despite injuries
The Utah Jazz trail the Los Angeles Clippers, 3-2, in their Western Conference second-round series. If they are to force a Game 7 Sunday afternoon at Vivint Arena, it will happen with Mike Conley available for the first time in the series.
Conley, who played in just 51 regular-season games due to injury, has not a played in this series while nursing a strained right hamstring.
Donovan Mitchell, who has been hampered by a right sprained right ankle, but has played well vs. the Clippers, also started after being listed as questionable on Thursday,.
Josh Newman began covering the University of Utah for The Tribune in 2019. A Long Island, N.Y. native, he covered Rutgers University and Monmouth University for the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey for 15 years. Basketball remains his first love, a cold IPA coming in a close second.