SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz overcame a first-half slump against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night to win the first game of the round two playoff series 112-109.
Utah's shots weren't falling throughout the first half -- they had a streak of 21 missed shots in a row. They went into the break trailing by 13.
But the Jazz caught up in the third quarter and took back a narrow lead, followed by back-and-forth lead changes.
The Jazz led by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter. In the final seconds, the Clippers had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer. However, Marcus Morris' attempt was blocked by Rudy Gobert, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year (and favorite to win a third time for this season).
Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points, Gobert added 10, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson each had 18.
Utah was without all-star guard Mike Conley as he recovers from a pulled hamstring.
The series continues Thursday, again at Vivint Arena.
