Donovan Mitchell

Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley will make his first appearance of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Conley, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, was cleared to play less than an hour before tipoff. 

Donovan Mitchell was also cleared to play despite a lingering ankle injury.

The hamstring issue caused Conley to miss Utah's first five games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Clippers. He originally suffered the injury late in the regular season and reaggravated it in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Mitchell said after the Jazz's Game 5 loss to the Clippers that his ankle is still causing problems after originally spraining it on April 16. 

The Jazz have lost three straight games to the Clippers after winning the first two games of the series. Their defense is allowing 123 points per game since Game 3, and they will look to stave off elimination at the Staples Center on Friday night. 

Conley led the Jazz with six assists per game during the regular season. He also averaged 16.2 points per game on 41.2 percent three-point shooting. 

Now that Conley is back, he will be the primary ballhandler for head coach Quin Snyder and provide Mitchell with his usual partner in crime in the backcourt. 

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell discussed his ankle injury and how it has impacted him following Wednesday night's 119-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Mitchell said:

"It's something I'm going to have to deal with. I mean, it f--king sucks. I ain't got nothing else to say. Like, it's tough when you're trying different things that you normally do and you see spots you can get to, but you can't, so you got to find a way to make it happen. 

"It's tough, but I got to find a way. Otherwise, I'm going to be home. And I said it last year ... and I said during the year, we didn't do all this to lose in the second round, so we got to figure it the f--k out. Otherwise, that's it. Excuse my language."

The 24-year-old has dealt with an ankle injury for the past few months, causing him to miss the final 16 games of the regular season and the first game of Utah's first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The issue returned during the second-round series against the Clippers, with Mitchell in apparent pain late in the Game 2 win. He also left early because of pain in the right ankle in the Game 3 loss but said he would try to play through it.

"It's been just trying to manage it," he told reporters. "I don't really know what else to tell you; I don't want to say too much. It was just the landing, but I'm good. I'll be ready for Game 4."

The Louisville product remains an impact player when he is on the court, scoring at least 30 points nearly every night in the playoffs. He turned heads with his 45-point effort in the Game 1 win over Los Angeles.

Mitchell struggled mightily in Wednesday's loss, though, going just 6-of-19 from the field and 4-of-14 from beyond the arc and finishing with 21 points, five assists and five rebounds.

With Mitchell playing well below expectations, the Jazz fell to the Clippers in Game 5 despite the fact that L.A. was playing without injured star Kawhi Leonard. Now, the Clippers hold a 3-2 series lead.

Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game during the regular season on the way to his second All-Star selection. He was the clear go-to option offensively for a team that produced the best record in the NBA (52-20), and his health is a major storyline as the Jazz look to contend for a title.

If the ankle injury continues to nag Mitchell moving forward, the Jazz will need more scoring out of Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and others in Game 6 and beyond should Utah manage to win Friday's do-or-die game.

The Los Angeles Clippers are one win away from advancing past what has turned into a battle of attrition.

Los Angeles took a 3-2 lead in its second-round series against the Utah Jazz with a 119-111 victory in Wednesday's Game 5 at Vivint Arena. Paul George, Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson led the way in the winning effort and helped make up for the loss of star Kawhi Leonard, who was sidelined with a knee injury.

Notable showings from Bojan Bogdanovic and Donovan Mitchell weren't enough for the Jazz, who have been without point guard Mike Conley (hamstring) throughout the series.

Notable Player Stats

• Paul George, G, LAC: 37 PTS, 16 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK
• Marcus Morris Sr., F, LAC: 25 PTS
• Reggie Jackson, G, LAC: 22 PTS, 3 AST, 2 STL
• Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 21 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST
• Bojan Bogdanovic, F, UTA: 32 PTS, 9-of-17 3PT

Paul George Leads Balanced Effort for Shorthanded Clippers

Not since his Indiana Pacers days has there been so much individual pressure on George to carry his team in a critical moment as the unquestioned go-to option.

Without Leonard, Los Angeles needed George to be the two-way superstar who can do a little bit of everything. That was especially the case on the road, and he wasted no time responding by aggressively attacking the basket and battling for boards even against taller frontcourt players.

The result was 22 points in the first half for the seven-time All-Star, which helped keep the Clippers well within striking distance despite red-hot shooting from the Jazz.

The visitors took over during the third quarter to build a double-digit lead. George continued to pick his spots without forcing the issue, and Morris provided important secondary scoring when Utah collapsed on George.

It was Jackson's turn to be the secondary playmaker in the fourth quarter, as he hit multiple outside shots and then assisted on a Nicolas Batum three to answer a Utah burst, pushing the lead back to double digits. He did it again after the Jazz closed to within three with a corner triple and drive right at Rudy Gobert to create more breathing room.

Throw in a monster dunk over Gobert by Terance Mann in crunch time, and a number of Clippers contributed with the game hanging in the balance.

Yet it was George who connected on an and-1 jumper from the elbow in the final two minutes to answer one more challenge by the Jazz. He also led all players in rebounding and, at least for one night, emphatically answered any lingering questions from last year's second-round loss regarding his ability to deliver when it matters most.

Jazz Fall Apart in Second Half

This was a golden opportunity the Jazz likely had to take advantage of if they are going to deliver on their championship hopes.

After all, they had the home-court advantage they earned during the regular season by going 31-5 at Vivint Arena. Los Angeles also didn't have its two-time NBA Finals MVP leading the way, which was probably an even bigger absence than Conley's.

Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson had a sense of the moment right from the start and combined for 11 three-pointers in the first half alone. It was the exact spark the team needed, especially after the Jazz struggled to generate enough offense outside of Mitchell until it was too late in Game 4.

And then the triples stopped falling.

Utah didn't make a single three-pointer in the third quarter as it fell behind by double digits. Mitchell also wasn't the dominant force he was during the first four games of this series, which seemingly left the Jazz grasping for straws offensively. Were it not for Rudy Gobert's offensive rebounding, the No. 1 seed may have fallen completely out of the game before the fourth. 

Frankly, the Jazz were fighting an uphill battle throughout the game with Mitchell just a step slower with the ball in his hands. They failed to build sustained momentum, as every small push seemed to end with a missed three or failed defensive possession.

All hope is not lost for the No. 1 seed considering the Clippers still might not have Leonard as they attempt to close the series out, but the abysmal second half in Game 5 will linger for Utah if it doesn't win two straight.

What's Next?

The series returns to Los Angeles for Friday's Game 6.

The NBA announced its three All-NBA teams on Tuesday, and the results proved costly for a couple young players who were in the mix.

Within minutes of the breaking news, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell started trending on Twitter. Both were omitted from the ceremonial top 15.

In most years, such snubs may not warrant the level of attention Tatum and Mitchell are receiving. But both, who've already signed max extensions worth 25 percent of the salary cap, missed out on 10s of millions of dollars. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, $33 million, to be exact.

Larry Coon explains in greater detail on his CBA FAQ:

"Certain players can receive contracts or extensions that are more favorable (in years and/or salary) than they ordinarily could receive. This applies to players who are finishing their rookie scale contracts (and other players with four years of experience), who can receive a starting salary up to 30% of the cap (which is normally reserved for players with 7-9 years of service)....

"In order to qualify for the higher maximum salary, players must meet certain performance criteria. At least one of the following must be true:

• The player was named to the All-NBA First, Second or Third team in the most recent season, or both of the two seasons that preceded the most recent season.
• The player was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the most recent season, or both of the two seasons that preceded the most recent season.
• The player was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in any of the three most recent seasons."

There's plenty of time between now and the end of their upcoming extensions to qualify for a so-called supermax that would take up 35 percent of whatever the cap will be then, but this year was their last chance to secure the jump from 25 to 30.

Beyond the prestige of being an All-NBA player, that much money being on the line raises all kinds of issues.

Should awards voted on by the media be so closely tied to a player's earning capacity? Does it make sense to have positional designations that split vote totals for someone like Tatum (more on that in a bit)? Should the increasingly positionless NBA just name a top 15, regardless of positions?

Year after year, this discussion bubbles to the surface when the season-ending awards are announced. Discontent with the process is more than justified for those who miss out on millions because of it.

"Hey. That's not our decision to make," longtime NBA writer Berry Tramel wrote for The Oklahoman. "We should report on what NBA teams spend and why they spend it and who they spend it on. But having an official role in what an NBA team can offer a player? That is not our place. That's a role from which we should flee."

Tramel is not alone in holding that sentiment. Plenty of voters have expressed uneasiness with the idea over the years, but this is the system the NBA put in place in an effort to incentivize young players to stay with the team that drafted them. After seeing several stars, regardless of contract situation, successfully push for trades in recent years, it may be time to revisit the supermax.

Tramel is right. Subjective honors bestowed by various writers and other media personalities shouldn't determine whether Tatum, Mitchell or others get to that 30 percent max. Eliminating the distinction between max and supermax might help. Maybe teams should just be able to offer that 30, regardless of honors. Then, of course, the decision is squarely back in the hands of the front office. And making those decisions is why team executives are hired.

Objective measures to qualify for a higher max might make sense too. There would surely be gripes over that too, but catch-all metrics have gained a lot of favor in recent years. Perhaps hitting a certain mark there could take a player from 25 percent to 26. Maybe a 30-plus scoring average could give another one or two percent.

Regardless of what the adjustment is, it certainly feels like one is needed.

Another problem is the positional question. Tatum isn't really a forward or a guard. He's a basketball player. And his versatility hurt him.

That's absurd.

There's a real discussion on whether Tatum deserved an All-NBA nod this season. If you sort every player with at least 500 minutes by the average of their ranks in 10 catch-all metrics from around the internet, Tatum finished right at No. 15 (Mitchell was 28th). He was ahead of both second-teamer Julius Randle (23rd) and third-teamer Bradley Beal (16th).

That's not to say that exercise should be determinative of the awards, but being eligible at two positions certainly shouldn't be what costs a borderline top 15 player All-NBA recognition and $33 million.

For Mitchell, a late-season sprained ankle may have hurt his chances, but he was still the leading scorer for the team with the best record in the league. And his advanced numbers are around the same range as those of Randle and Beal. He was far from a shoo-in for All-NBA, but why should that determine whether he makes 30 percent of the cap? If Mitchell was an unrestricted free agent this offseason, you don't think multiple teams would offer him that?

The NBA's heart was in the right place with this attempt to reward teams for drafting well. There's still a sort of purity with titles like Dirk Nowitzki's that just isn't there when a superteam runs the table. There's a connection between Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers, or Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (for now), that journeymen probably can't establish.

But this attempt was likely a miss. At best, it's rolling around the rim.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell were not named to the All-NBA teams, which were announced on Tuesday.

Those snubs will prevent each player from potentially earning an additional $33 million, as noted by ESPN's Bobby Marks:

The All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams were as follows:

Mitchell and Tatum both began their NBA careers in 2017.

Tatum and Mitchell both made the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year. Tatum finished the regular season with a career-high 26.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Mitchell also had a career-high 26.4 points en route to helping lead the NBA-best Utah Jazz to a 52-20 record. He added a career-high 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds as well.

At the same time, there were plenty of excellent individual performances this year, including a breakout season from New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (Second Team), an NBA MVP-winning campaign via Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic (First Team), and an incredible comeback season from Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (First Team), who led the NBA in scoring after missing nearly all of 2019-20 due to injury.

Still, Tatum and Mitchell were excellent in their own right and very easily could have snuck onto the All-NBA Team.

Although they missed out on some more money, they're still locked up long-term thanks to some fat second contracts with their current teams. Both signed five-year deals worth up to $195 million.

Tatum's Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Mitchell's Jazz are tied with the Los Angeles Clippers at two games apiece in their Western Conference second-round playoff series.

The Los Angeles Clippers are two wins away from their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in franchise history.

L.A. evened its second-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz at 2-2 with a 118-104 victory in Monday's Game 4 at Staples Center. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Marcus Morris Sr. led the way in the winning effort and ensured the pattern of the home team winning every game in this series continued.

An impressive showing from Donovan Mitchell wasn't enough for the Jazz, who remained without Mike Conley because of a hamstring injury.

Notable Player Stats

• Kawhi Leonard, F, LAC: 31 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL
• Paul George, G, LAC: 31 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST
• Marcus Morris Sr., F, LAC: 24 PTS, 6 REB, 5-of-6 3PT
• Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 37 PTS, 5 AST, 5 REB
• Bojan Bogdanovic, F, UTA: 18 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL
• Joe Ingles, G, UTA: 19 PTS, 3 AST, 3 REB

Clippers Cruise Behind Kawhi and PG13

Nobody in the entire league was under as much scrutiny entering these playoffs as George and the Clippers, who failed to capitalize on championship expectations last year in large part because the seven-time All-Star struggled as they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the second round.

The criticism was there once again when they fell behind 2-0 to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round and 2-0 to the Jazz in this round.

Yet they continue to bounce back, and George was a big part of the early efforts Monday with his rebounding, outside shooting and ability to get to the free-throw line. Throw in Leonard posterizing Derrick Favors with a monster slam as he continued to get to the rim and Morris catching fire from long range, and Los Angeles looked downright unstoppable in the first half.

The Clippers of old may have folded when the Jazz made a charge to start the third quarter as they cut the 29-point lead in half with multiple three-pointers and transition opportunities.

Instead, George dunked in the lane and hit a three, Leonard hit his patented pull-up jumpers, and the defense delivered on important possessions to make sure the visitors didn't generate too much momentum.

That was all that was needed thanks to the early dominance, and Ivica Zubac's tip-in to end the third quarter and push the lead back to 21 seemingly ended any chance the Jazz had at completing a dramatic comeback. The only real concern was Leonard, who didn't play in the final minutes after slightly limping and rubbing his knee.

Leonard is a given if healthy as a two-time NBA Finals MVP who can carry the team on both ends, but the Clippers need George to play to his potential if they are going to win this series and the title. It is encouraging that he responded in his second consecutive pressure-packed contest after pouring in 31 points in Game 3, and the team will look to build on that on the road.

Donovan Mitchell's Big Scoring Night Not Enough for Jazz

There was reason for concern from Utah's perspective even before Monday's game.

After all, Conley still hasn't played yet in this series, which has left it without its floor general who sets up others for ideal looks and hits from the outside when needed. Mitchell also limped multiple times throughout the Game 3 loss, and it is nearly impossible to envision the Jazz winning this series if he is sidelined.

Things didn't get much better out of the gates for the visitors in Game 4, as they fell behind by as many as 29 points and looked completely lost on the defensive side for extended stretches.

The one silver lining was the performance of Mitchell. The two-time All-Star did what he could to keep his team within striking distance by slashing through the lane, finishing through contact and connecting from three-point range. He poured in 21 points in the first half alone as the only member of his team in double figures.

Rudy Gobert didn't even attempt a shot from the field in the first half, and the supporting cast was nowhere to be found until the Jazz picked up the pace in the third quarter and started looking for quick three-pointers.

While Mitchell forced the issue at times and ended up with five turnovers, he continued to create scoring opportunities for himself and reached the 30-point mark for the sixth straight game. Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic also picked up their play with perimeter shooting, which at least gives the Jazz something to build on heading back home.

Still, Jordan Clarkson didn't provide his typical scoring (3-of-12 from the field), and Utah was never able to dig out of the significant hole it found itself in following an abysmal first half.

What's Next?

The series shifts back to Utah for Wednesday's Game 5.

Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell suffered an injury scare midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday night's Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers when he appeared to tweak his right ankle.

However, head coach Quin Snyder downplayed concerns about Mitchell's availability. 

"He's in good shape," Snyder told reporters after the 132-106 loss. "He could have gone back in the game." The Jazz star scored 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting as Utah watched its series lead shrink to 2-1.

Snyder added that he kept Mitchell on the bench late because "the game had gotten away from us."

A sprained right ankle previously kept the 24-year-old out for the team's final 16 games of the regular season. He also missed the Jazz's 112-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series.  

Barring any setbacks, though, it appears as though Mitchell will be available when Game 4 tips off at Staples Center on Monday night at 10 p.m. ET.