A defeat in the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz forced the Los Angeles Clippers to pick out their best side during Sunday night's third meeting.
And that would mean a convincing victory with 132-106.
Two players took the lead: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who together scored 65 points for the Clippers.
- My two best players must be able to do it, says Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue according to the BBC.
- They set the table for everyone else.
Fourth meeting on Monday
Jazz, who came into the game without star Mike Conley, saw Kawhi Leonard score 34 points while teammate Paul George accounted for 31 points.
Conley has had a sore muscle in the back of his thigh and missed the match as a result.
Jazz player Donovan Mitchell did what he could in his absence and managed to offer 30 points.
He then went out due to injury with seven minutes left of the match.
The teams will now meet in a fourth meeting during the night towards Tuesday.
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- He still wins, said Vanessa Bryant when her husband was posthumously elected into the fine room of basketball, a speech that moved the legend Michael Jordan. Photo: Kathy Willens, AP / TT