To save themselves, the Jazz like the Sixers will have to win the 6th game of their series on Friday away. In Salt Lake City, Paul George was the hero of the Clippers, winners 111-119, passing 37 points to the team of French Rudy Gobert, elected a week ago best defender of the season for the third time. The day had however started in the worst way for the Californians with the announcement of a knee injury for their star Kawhi Leonard, who will be unavailable at least until the end of the series, or even until the end of the play. -offs.
But the exceptional performance of George, also author of 16 rebounds and 5 assists, while Marcus Morris, him, registered 25 points and Reggie Jackson 21, made it possible to camouflage this absence. "It was the most important game of the postseason, especially in the absence of our best player," said Paul George after the victory. “We knew when we got here that we had to play together, that we had to win. We did a great job playing collectively. ”
The Utah players were up to 10 points ahead in the second quarter, without the Clippers demobilizing.
“We did not overreact, said Paul George.
"What is good is that we were able to withstand the storm," he continued, while a new victory promises to be imperative on Friday in Los Angeles, to avoid a possible 7th game in the Utah.
“We just have to go with the mindset that we don't want to come back to Utah,” said the California winger.
On the Jazz side, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 32 points, while Donovan Mitchell scored just 21, with a weak four of 14 at three points.
Trae Young glowing
In the other semi-final of the day, which counts for the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks, behind 26 points at the start of the third quarter, managed a crazy comeback to win 109-106 against to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the support of their public, the Sixers had to bow to players from Atlanta authors of a remarkable offensive performance, under the leadership of Trae Young (39 points).
Three minutes from the buzzer, Philadelphia still led by 6 points, 104-98, before Young made two baskets in quick succession, then got a foul behind the 3-point line giving him as many free throws as he converted. .
Atlanta then went ahead to score (105-104), for the first time in the match, with only 1 min 26 seconds remaining.
The Hawks were then no longer joined.
“We just kept fighting,” Young said after the game.
We trust each other.
We are a great group, he continued.
We all enjoy each other's company and it shows on the pitch.
We never stopped believing in it until the buzzer sounded. "
A remarkable state of mind for a team which had fired its head coach Lloyd Pierce on March 1.
It was therefore under the direction of interim coach Nate McMillan that the Hawks progressed in the standings, until they secured a place in the play-offs.
“It's great to have a coach who trusts me,” said Young.
I still have a lot to learn, a lot to improve.
But I feel like right now we're in a good position and we just have to keep winning and believing in each other. ”
Behind Trae Young, John Collins had 19 points, Gallinari 16 and Lou Williams 15. On the Philly side, Embiid's 37 units and Seth Curry's 36 were insufficient to win.
