Clippers rout Jazz, cut ‘deficit’ to 2-1
LOS ANGELES, June 13, (AP): Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was looking for a prime performance from both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. They both delivered Grade A games to get Los Angeles back into its secondround series against Utah.
Leonard scored 34 points and George added 31 in the Clippers’ 132-106 victory in Game 3. It is the second time both have scored at least 30 in the same playoff game, and helped No. 4 seed LA cut topseeded Utah’s series lead to 2-1.
“I don’t go to Mastros to order the ketchup, I go to order the steak,” said Lue when asked if he expected those types of performances from his two stars every game.
George shot only 34.3% from the field in the first two games but was 12 of 24, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. He had 13 points in the second quarter, eight during a 13-2 run when LA seized control and took a 57-41 advantage with 2:54 remaining. “I think I just shot my shots, got the shots I’m most comfortable with and stuck with it,” George said.
BASKETBALL
Leonard scored 24 points in the second half. It is his fourth career postseason game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Three have come in his two seasons with the Clippers.
“We both understand we’ve got to be aggressive from this point on and do whatever it takes to win,” George said. “That’s just a mentality we had to come out, get this team on the right start offensively.”
Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum added 17 points apiece for the Clippers.
Game 4 is Monday night at Staples Center. “I’ve said it the last two games as well. Kawhi and PG, they’re capable of really making
plays and they made plays for other people. There’s going to be times where it’s tough to stop them from making shots,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. “Some of the breakdowns and the cleaner looks that they get, particularly tonight I thought in transition when we attacked the basket there’s got to be urgency to recognize that situation and really get back and show a crowd where they don’t have clear lanes to the basket.”
Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 30 points, his fifth straight games with at least 30. The last player to do that was Leonard last year in the first round against Dallas.
Joe Ingles had 19 points for Utah and Jordan Clarkson added 14. The Jazz were 19 of 44 on 3-pointers, but 17 of 40 inside the arc as the Clippers’ zone defense caused problems.