Clippers beat Jazz in Game 3 of NBA series, cut deficit to 2-1 

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots as Jazz center Rudy Gobert defends during Game 3 of their playoff series on June 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Short Url
Updated 13 June 2021
Follow

Clippers beat Jazz in Game 3 of NBA series, cut deficit to 2-1 

  • Game 4 is Monday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and 12 rebounds, Paul George added 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers got back into their second-round series against the Utah Jazz with a 132-106 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.
Leonard and George each scored at least 30 in the same playoff game for the second time to help the Clippers cut Utah’s series lead to 2-1.
George shot only 34.3 percent from the field in the first two games but was 12 of 24, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. He had 13 points in the second quarter, eight during a 13-2 run when LA seized control and took a 57-41 advantage with 2:54 remaining in the first half.
Leonard scored 24 points in the second half. Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum added 17 points apiece for the Clippers.
Game 4 is Monday night at Staples Center.
Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 30 points, his fifth straight games with at least 30. The last player to do that was Leonard last year in the first round against Dallas.
Joe Ingles had 19 points for Utah and Jordan Clarkson added 14. The Jazz were 19 of 44 on 3-pointers, but 17 of 40 inside the arc as the Clippers’ zone defense caused problems.

MITCHELL’S NIGHT
Mitchell missed his first four shots, including a pair of drives to the basket, and didn’t make his first basket until there was 7:34 left in the second quarter. He then proceeded to score Utah’s next 16 points, which included four 3-pointers.
It was the first time in his last 23 games that Mitchell had gone scoreless in the first quarter.

TIP INS
Jazz: Ruby Gobert had 12 points and 10 rebounds. ... Clarkson was assessed a Flagrant-1 foul for slapping Ivica Zubac in the face after a rebound 20 seconds into the second quarter. ... Guard Mike Conley missed his third straight game because of a mild right hamstring strain.
Clippers: LA had struggled from the perimeter in the first two games but was 19 of 36 on 3-pointers Saturday night. Jackson had five 3-pointers, Batum added four and Luke Kennard had a pair in the second half to keep the lead in double digits.
 


Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

  • Former captain Steve Smith will join squad in Sri Lanka as cover while Travis Head captains team
  • Marsh sustained direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, Cricket Australia says 

Australia captain ‌Mitchell Marsh will miss the opening game of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday with a groin ​injury, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Steve Smith will now join the squad in Sri Lanka as cover, with fellow batsman Travis Head captaining the side at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium and Matthew Renshaw coming into the team.

Marsh sustained a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week and is experiencing ‌pain and ‌discomfort which is restricting his ​movement, ‌the ⁠board added.

“Scans ​have confirmed ⁠internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice,” CA said in a statement.

Head said at the toss later that Marsh was unlucky to miss out ⁠and appeared to play down the seriousness ‌of the injury. He did ‌not give a timeline for ​his teammate’s return.

“Unfortunately Mitchie ‌Marsh has copped a blow at training a couple ‌of days ago and no one has been willing to massage it out for him,” Head joked after winning the toss and opting to bat.

“He’s the unfortunate one but ‌the rest (of the side) is the same. It’s nice to have a couple ⁠of boys ⁠back from the Pakistan series. Strong team and we’re looking forward to going well.”

Australia are also without fast bowler Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the event after failing to recover from a niggling back injury. Fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood lost a race to be fit after Achilles and hamstring injuries.

Mitchell Starc has quit the format, leaving them without their top quick bowlers.

The big-hitting Tim David was ​also ruled out of ​the first game as he returns from a hamstring strain.

The 2021 champions take on Zimbabwe in their second match ​on Friday.