Utah Jazz-LA Clippers buzz: Jazz respond big to close out Clippers after zone slowed them down
Here is what pundits and fans are saying during Game 2 of this Western Conference second-round series
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz fans react as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) scores his 27th point in the first half of the game, with a 3-point shot in the final seconds of the first half, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) reacts after drawing a foul, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) knocks the ball out of the hands of LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is stopped by LA Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) and LA Clippers guard Paul George (13), in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) plows pas LA Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) for two points, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) knock the ball out of the hands of LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40), in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles (2) reacts as the Utah Jazz extend their lead at the end of the second half, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) pleads his case to referee Scott Foster (48), in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune)Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) smiles at Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) at the end of the second half, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) goes in for a lay-up), in second round playoff actin in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is double-teamed by LA Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) and LA Clippers guard Paul George (13), in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) shoots over LA Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8), in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) runs some time off the clock before scoring his 27th point in the first half of the game, with a 3-point- shot in the final seconds of the first half, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz fans react as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) scores his 27th point in the first half of the game, with a 3-point shot in the final seconds of the first half, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Sala Lake Tribune) Jazz fans cheer as the Clippers attempt a free throw during Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Vivint Arena, Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah guard Joe Ingles (2) scores for the Jazz, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) receives the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in his career before Game 2 of the Westen COnference Semifinals against the LA Clippers at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) LA Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) defends Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah guard Donovan Mitchell (45) powers past LA Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) to score for the Jazz, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) reacts after hitting a big 3-pointer putting the Jazz up by 7, late in the 4th quarter, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) defends, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune)LA Clippers guard Patrick Beverley (21) reacts after being called for a personal foul, in second round playoff action in game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) LA Clippers guard Paul George (13) defends Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Vivint Arena, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
Jazz close with a big response
The Clippers erased all of a 21-point deficit to take a 101-99 lead with 6:37 to play, but the Jazz had an answer, taking control on both ends the rest of the way to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series.
Clippers went up 101-99 … Jazz respond with a 14-2 run. Bonkers. Ingles suddenly with 19p on 7-9 shooting.
Down as many as 21 points early in the third quarter, the Clippers went to a matchup zone defense, which drastically changed the tone of the game. A 13-0 run off the zone got the Clippers to within four at one point late in the period.
This Clippers zone has changed the game, and yeah, this is one of those spots where you miss Conley badly. https://t.co/pctE8KuYho
The zone has completely flipped the game. Utah's had maybe two good possessions against it, and one was a Favors missed layup. The Jazz lead is down to 82-76....3:33 remaining in the third quarter....The Clippers have something that works
Clippers found something with this Zone defense. Even though the Jazz are still knocking down shots, they are making it much tougher on them to get good, open looks.
Ingles has struggled from 3-point range of late, but when the Australian lefty nailed one late in the second quarter to push the Jazz lead to 10, Snyder, who is normally reserved, let out some emotion by chest-bumping Ingles as the Clippers called timeout.
Quin gives Joe some chest slaps after the latter finally nailed a 3 and the Clippers called timeout. Improbably, JAzz have stretched their lead to 60-50. Rudy's length has really impacted Boogie.
Consecutive threes by Mitchell and Ingles and the Jazz lead 60-50....Ingles just ran the slowest break I've ever seen. I'm just gonna call it secondary transition
Mitchell began 3-for-3 from the field, scoring eight of Utah’s first 10 points over the first 1:42 of action, pacing the Jazz to a 10-2 and sending Vivint Arena into early hysterics.
Vivint Arena broke into a “Ru-dy, Ru-dy, Ru-dy” chant after the newly-minted NBA Defensive Player of the Year challenged, then turned away DeMarcus Cousins at the rim. That show of appreciation from Jazz fans came after a pregame standing ovation for Gobert, who was honored for winning his third DPOY award in four seasons on Wednesday afternoon.
No Clipper wants to even bother an attempt in the paint bc of Rudy.
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