Clippers up 3-2 and staring at the Suns after 119, 111 win over Jazz

The LA Clippers are back in business like this store in Salt Lake City which is always in business branded by Utah Jazz's All-Star Donovan Mitchelll. Photo: Michele Roepke

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. — Paul George scored 37 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 119-111 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series Wednesday night.

The first half action between the top-ranked Jazz and the fourth-ranked Clippers was as sizzling as the all-time record-breaking 107-degree heat Salk Lake City experienced on Tuesday.

LA’s star Kawhi Leonard was sidelined indefinitely from a knee injury sustained in Game 5 and Utah’s Mike Conley remained on the bench after not having suited up this whole second-round series from a hamstring injury reaggravated in round one. Conley told TNT’s sideline reporter Rebecca Haarlow, “I worked so hard on my body to avoid having this happen. I’m the most frustrated person here.” 

Utah’s Rudy Gobert and LA’s Marcus Morris Sr. shared a double technical foul with two and a half left in the half. Gobert fell under the net, Morris Sr. stepped over him and Gobert grabbed his leg as he did so.

Bojan Bogdonovich of the Jazz went six for six from downtown in the first. He scored 32 points – while making nine 3-pointers – to lead Utah. Donovan Mitchell added 21 points. Rudy Gobert chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds. Six players scored in double figures for the Jazz.

The game ended with four team fouls for LA and three for Utah.

“We’re having a hard time doing the right thing.” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told Haarlow after the third quarter.

George said to Haarlow after the game, “This was our toughest matchup of the postseason. We weathered their storm. We’ve got to put this one behind us and get ready for a rockin’ crowd back in LA.” 

Tonight, the Vivint Arena had a capacity, concomitantly chanting and cheering crowd including NBA legend Dewayne Wade who is in the Jazz ownership group, the youngest group in the NBA. 

This series winner plays in the Western Conference Finals Series against the Phoenix Suns who have finished their four-game series sweep against the Denver Nuggets. Phoenix is the number two ranked team in the West.

Game 6 will be in LA at the Staples Center on Friday on ESPN, tip-off is at 10:00 pm (EST).