8:40 pm
June 12

Jazz @ Clippers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Utah Jazz (52-20)

@ Los Angeles Clippers (47-25)

 

Current odds:

Utah Jazz: (+175)

Los Angeles Clippers: (-200)

 

• The spread for the game is Los Angeles by 5 points.

• The Los Angeles Clippers do not have much margin for error as they enter Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The Clippers are in deep peril after losing the first two games in Salt Lake City and know they can’t afford a third straight loss in the best-of-seven series.

• The 24-year-old Mitchell is averaging 41 points in the series after scoring 37 in Game 2 to follow up a 45-point effort in the series opener. Mitchell has made six 3-pointers in each game. Mitchell became the first Jazz player to score at least 35 points in back-to-back playoff games since franchise legend Karl Malone did so three straight times during the 1988 postseason.

• The Jazz won the first two games despite not having the services of point guard Mike Conley due to a mild right hamstring strain. Conley’s status for Game 3 won’t likely be known until Saturday. Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson helped pick up some of the slack by knocking down 6 of 9 3-point attempts and scoring 24 points.

• Meanwhile, Leonard scored just 21 points in Game 2 and is averaging 22 in the series. Bojan Bogdanovic shadowed Leonard in the fourth quarter and held the two-time NBA Finals MVP to two points on 1-of-4 shooting. More concerning than Leonard’s final-quarter struggles to Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was seeing his team allow 66 first-half points and falling behind by as many as 21 in the third quarter.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Clippers
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