Kawhi Leonard and Paul George Too Much for Jazz in 118-104 Victory in Game 4
Los Angeles Clippers #13 Paul George (F) is being held by the Utah Jazz #45 Donovan Mictchell (PG/SG). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Clippers down (2-1) in the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz played another great game and tied the series 2-2 after winning 118-104, at the Staple Center.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George led the Clippers in scoring, both with 31-points, Marcus Morris Sr. had 24-points, Luke Kennard, and Ivica Zubac both had 8-points, and Nicolas Batum had 7-points. Donovan Mitchell carried the Utah Jazz with 37-points, Jon Ingles19-points, and Bojan Bogdanovic with 18-points.
Kawhi Leonard gave the Clippers a 3-2 lead in the first quarter. The Clippers led 6-2 after Marcus Morris Sr. made a three-point shot. Moments later, Paul George made a lead pass to a streaking Kawhi Leonard, who made a layup, and the Clippers now led 10-2, forcing the Jazz to call a timeout.
Utah Jazz #45 Donovan Mitchell attacking the basket against Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.
Morris Sr. made another three-point that made the score 13-4. Royce O'Neale's layup had the Jazz trailing 13-6. George made a step-back three-pointer that increased the Clippers' lead to 16-6.
The Clippers led at the end of the quarter 30-13, with Leonard leading the way with 12-points, Morris Sr. with 11-points, and George with 7-points. The Clippers held the Jazz's Donovan Mitchell to 4-points.
Luke Kennard's three-pointer, in the second quarter, gave the Clippers a 33-13. George made another three-pointer and had the Clippers leading 38-17 with 8:41 left in the first half.
Reggie Jackson made a driving floater that increased the Clippers' lead to 41-17. George went to the basket strong and scored on a two-handed power dunk and was fouled by Mitchell, and his free throw made the score 48-22 with 6:26 left in the first half.
Leonard drove the basket for a layup that made the score 20-6. You could tell that George and Leonard were in the same grove.
"Myself and Kawhi got full trust in each other," said George, who was playing in his 100th career postseason game. "It's opportunities for us to score when we get switches, but then there are opportunities to allow our teammates to be aggressive and make plays for them when we can attack our mismatches. I think it's just a healthy mix."
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (F) power dunk over Utah Jazz #15 Derrick Favors (PF) at the Staple Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.
Derrick Favors' layup had the Jazz down by ten points, 20-10. Morris Sr. made another three-point shot that gave the Clippers a 23-10. Leonard made a three-point shot, and the Clippers now led by sixteen points, 26-10, with 2:08 left in the quarter.
The Clippers led at the end of the quarter 30-13, with Leonard leading the way with 12-points, Morris Sr. with 11-points, and George with 7-points. The Clippers held the Jazz's Donovan Mitchell to 4-points.
Luke Kennard's three-pointer, in the second quarter, gave the Clippers a 33-13. George made another three-pointer and had the Clippers leading 38-17 with 8:41 left in the first half.
Reggie Jackson made a driving floater that increased the Clippers' lead to 41-17. George went to the basket strong and scored on a two-handed power dunk and was fouled by Mitchell, and his free throw made the score 48-22 with 6:26 left in the first half.
Morris Sr. made a jump shot that made the score 55-29. Mitchell made a three-point shot making the score 55-34, and Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue called a timeout.
Leonard drove thru the key and went up and over the Jazz's Derrick Favors for a monster dunk that made the score 62-38 and had the Clippers fans buzzing and up on their feet. The Jazz trail the Clippers 68-44 at halftime.
"During the game or the heat of the moment, I know it's a big play," Leonard said. "But you have to have the next-play mentality."
The Clippers' defense set the tone for the game in the first half, and Leonard and George came out being aggressive on offense that helped their teammates make shots.
"I thought it was our defense where we set the tone. We were able to get out in transition," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
Morris Sr. led the Clippers in scoring with 22-points, Leonard with 19-points, and George with 15-points. Mitchell led the Jazz in scoring with 21-points. The Clippers made 21 of their 42 shots for 50 percent shooting, and the Jazz shot poorly, making 14 of 40 shots for 35 percent shooting.
Nicolas Batum made a three-pointer in the third quarter that had the Clippers leading 71-49. Mitchell made two free throws that had the Jazz trailing 71-56. George took off from the top of the key for a dunk making the score 73-56.
Los Angeles Clippers #21 Patrick Beverly (PG) going up for a layup after stealing the ball from the Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Batum's jump shot gave the Clippers an 80-61 lead. Patrick Beverly stole the ball from Donovan and went down the court for a layup, and the Clippers now led by twenty points, 84-64.
Mitchell made a three-point shot that made the score 85-71. Ivica Zubac closed out the third quarter with a tip-in basket that made the score 94-73.
Zubac's dunk had the Clippers leading the Jazz in the fourth quarter 103-85. Jordan Clarkson's three-pointer made the score 105-81. Leonard made two free throws making the score 107-91.
Mitchell's three-pointer had the Jazz down 110-97 with 3:21 left in the game. Joe Ingles's three-point shot had the Jazz trailing by ten points 112-102. Morris Sr.'s two free throws with 1:40 left in the game had the Clippers leading 114-102.
The Clippers made free throws to keep the Jazz at bay and tied the series 2-2 after their 118-104 victory heading back to Salt Lake City for Game 5 on Wednesday.