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The Los Angeles Clippers can advance to the Western Conference Finals on Friday night in Game 6 of the West semifinals against the Utah Jazz, but the Clippers are short home underdogs on the NBA odds because they are again expected to be without superstar Kawhi Leonard.

How to Bet Jazz at Clippers NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 10 PM ET
Where: Staples Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio:com

Why Bet on Utah?

Once Kawhi Leonard was ruled out for Game 5, the Jazz jumped from 3-point favorites to -8 yet still lost at home, 119-111 – their third straight defeat in the series but first at home. Utah again played without All-Star point guard Mike Conley, who has missed this entire series with a hamstring injury. He’s questionable for this one.

“I had been pushing really hard to play earlier in the series [and] had a small setback related to the hammy during that process,” Conley said. “This is why it’s been extended a little bit longer than I know we all would like. Obviously, if I could play, I would. There’s no question about that. But the progress we’re making now is really good. It’s just a little delayed.”

The Jazz were red hot in the first half, hitting on 17 of their 30 attempts from behind the arc. Their halftime, lead, however, was only five points thanks to 11 turnovers (leading to 17 points for L.A.) and some defensive breakdowns.

“I felt maybe we could have been ahead more than we were if it weren’t for some mistakes,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said.

Fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell hit just 6 -for-19 from the field in the loss for 21 points with five rebounds and five assists. Mitchell started slow as his teammates caught fire from the perimeter. His passive nature may have come back to haunt him late in the game when the team needed him the most, as he struggled to find his rhythm on the offensive end when it counted most.

Mitchell’s bum right ankle is still bothering him and he doesn’t have his normal explosiveness. He has aggravated the injury on multiple occasions during the second round, and his effectiveness has dropped off drastically since a pair of spectacular performances in the Jazz’s two wins to open the series. In the past three games — Utah’s first three-game losing streak of the season — Mitchell has averaged 29.3 points but shot only 37.7% from the floor. “It’s just something I’m going to have to deal with,” Mitchell said.

Bojan Bogdanovic blew up in the loss with 32 points, making 9-for-17 from deep. He connected on six triples in the first quarter alone. The Jazz couldn’t miss from downtown early in the game but the Jazz went cold, missing 13 straight 3-pointers in the middle of the game. Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 10 rebounds and zero blocks, and Royce O’Neale and Joe Ingles each scored 12 as starters for the Jazz. Jordan Clarkson had 15 off the bench.

Why Bet on LA Clippers?

Kawhi Leonard was surprisingly ruled out ahead of Game 5 with a knee injury and his status is unclear – it doesn’t seem too likely he will play, though. Leonard tweaked the knee on a drive late in Game 4, grimacing in pain as he planted on his way to the basket. He stayed in briefly but didn’t finish the game. Some reports say it could be an ACL injury and that Kawhi won’t return in this series. He has been great in the postseason for the Clippers and is averaging 27.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in the four games against the Jazz.

After a so-so first half in Game 5, the Clippers outscored the Jazz 32-18 in the third quarter to take control. The Jazz shot just 3-for-24 from deep after halftime.

Paul George really stepped up for Leonard on Wednesday with 37 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes. George became the 1st player with 35 points, 15 rebounds & five assists in a playoff game in Clippers history. George joined Kevin Durant as the only players this postseason to post a 35-15-5 game.

George has typically elevated his game when Leonard is out, averaging 25.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists, including a great run in April when he averaged 29.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists in seven games while Leonard was out with right foot soreness.

“I’ve been in Indiana, where I had to lead a franchise,” George said of having to lead without Leonard. “The beauty here is I get to do that with one of the best in the world in Kawhi. Now Kawhi is down. It was just that mindset being back in Indy, having to set the tone and come out and lead a ballclub. That’s really the mindset I came out with.”

Marcus Morris hit 10-of-16 shots and three 3-pointers for 25 points in 40 minutes, his second straight stellar game. Reggie Jackson hit 8-of-15 shots and three 3-pointers for 22 points. Terance Mann started for Leonard and had Mann 13 points in 26 minutes. Even though Mann offers some of the same size as Leonard defensively, that’s about where the comparisons end. Offensively, Mann may have started at small forward, but he basically played center for long stretches.

“I’m not trying to fill Kawhi’s role at all, man. That’s Kawhi Leonard,” Mann said postgame. “But I’m just trying to be me, make things happen on the defensive end and be myself on the offensive end and whatever happens, happens after that…. I’m not trying to fill anybody’s shoes. These guys trust me to be me and so that’s who I’m going to be.”

Game Trends

Jazz are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite.
Jazz are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.
Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home underdog.
Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Friday games.
Jazz are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.