Los Angeles (AFP)

The Clippers, carried by their star duo Kawhi Leonard / Paul George finally at full speed, largely beat Utah (132-106), Saturday, and are only led by two wins to one in the Western Conference semifinals, in the NBA play-offs.

Held to win under penalty of finding himself back to the wall, after two defeats conceded in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz had been able to force the decision each time by showing themselves the most solid at the end of the match, LA did not have him left the leisure to repeat this scenario, since he already had a fifteen point lead at the break (64-49).

Symbol of the reaction of Californian pride, Paul George was a real offensive leader during this first period, with 20 points scored (31 in total, 5 assists), attacking the basket more often than usual and finding rather well the sight behind the arc (6/10).

It was he who had already shown the most combative at the end of the N.2 match, without managing to weigh enough, and he kept this good state of mind on the floor of the Staples Center.

# photo1

"They lit a fire behind us and we had to protect our field (...) Shoot and shoot again without thinking about the result, playing aggressively, that's what I wanted to do tonight", he commented.

- Mitchell, the ankle is creaking -

Under these conditions, Kawhi Leonard saw the opposing defensive pressure on him loosen slightly and he took advantage of it, also showing himself to be damn effective with 34 points in the bag (14/24 on shots, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 interceptions , 1 against).

Between them they thus concentrated almost 50% of the points of the team and that obviously made a big difference, vis-a-vis Jazz players who defended a little less well, because their physical impact was also less on this meeting.

The proof is that the Clippers shot at 55.7% success, finding in Nicolas Batum, excellent (17 pts, 7 rebounds, 2 assists), and Reggie Jackson (17 pts, 5/6 behind the arc) two other valuable offensive relays.

Opposite, Donovan Mitchell tried to maintain the suspense with 30 points scored, a bar that he passes for the fifth consecutive time in these play-offs.

But while taking support to attack the circle, he slightly hurt his right ankle.

The same one who suffered from a sprain, depriving him of parquet for a month in the spring.

# photo2

No risk was taken and, without betraying any particular concern about his state of health, he finished the game on the bench, his foot roughly bandaged with ice to prevent any swelling.

So dissuasive in the first two acts, Rudy Gobert, named this week the best defender in the league for the third time, had less impact in the racket, even if his 12 points and 10 rebounds (1 against) absolutely did nothing unworthy.

© 2021 AFP