Donovan Mitchell scores 37 as Jazz take 2-0 lead over Clippers

Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points to lead the Utah Jazz past the Los Angeles Clippers, 117-111, as they took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Western Conference semifinal series on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Mitchell scored 27 of his total in the first half alone while Jordan Clarkson supported him with 24 points off the bench as the Jazz survived another close one.

The West No. 1 seed Utah won Game 1, 112-109.

Reggie Jackson led No. 4 Los Angeles with 29 points while Paul George posted 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the loss.

Behind the scoring of Mitchell and Clarkson, the Jazz held a comfortable lead at the half, 66-53. The pair combined for 42 points through the first two periods.

But the Clippers clawed back to within two points, 93-91, after two free throws from Patrick Beverley and a triple from Nic Batum to open the fourth period. They claimed the lead behind back-to-back baskets threes from Jackson, 101-99.

Utah, though, took control back in the fourth thanks to three-pointers from Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale and Joe Ingles as part of a 14-2 fourth quarter run leading into the final stretch.

—JMB, GMA News