LOS ANGELES — Terance Mann scored a career-high 39 points and the Los Angeles Clippers advanced to a conference final for the first time in the franchise’s 51-year history, beating the Utah Jazz 131-119 on Friday night.
“The cheers, the excitement, you felt the monkey off of the Clippers back as far as getting past the second round,” said Paul George, who had 28 points. “The playoffs are about grit and fighting back. Time after time we have shown that.”
Reggie Jackson added 25 points for the Clippers, who faced a 25-point deficit early in the third quarter before rallying. It is the largest comeback by a team in a series-clinching win over the last 25 seasons.
It is the second straight series Los Angeles has dropped the first two games and come back to advance. The fourth-seeded Clippers will face second-seeded Phoenix in the Western Conference finals. Game 1 is Sunday in Phoenix.
The Clippers won the final two games against the Jazz with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard sidelined by a sprained right knee. The close-out victory was viewed by 17,105 at Staples Center, marking the first time in 15 months the Clippers had played in front of a full house after California eased COVID-19 safety restrictions on Tuesday.
Mann helped fuel the rally with 20 points in the third quarter. Utah had a 94-91 lead going into the final 12 minutes, but Jackson gave the Clippers their first lead since early in the second quarter when his layup made it 96-95 with 10:36 remaining.
Mann — who was 15 of 21 from the field — also was just the third player in franchise history to make at least seven 3s in a postseason game.
The Clippers had a 107-106 lead with eight minutes remaining before they seized control with nine straight points, including five by Mann. The closest the Jazz would get after that was six.
Donovan Mitchell led top-seeded Utah with 39 points. It is the second time in franchise history the Jazz have blown a 25-point lead in a postseason game.
Royce O’Neale added 21 for the Jazz. They had the NBA’s top regular-season record but lost four straight for the first time all year.
“I think our inefficiency early on in the third quarter turning the ball over, that led to a lot of baskets. And obviously in the half court they spaced us and moved it and had us on our heels,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said.
Mitchell opened the second half with a 33-foot, step back 3-pointer to give the Jazz a 75-50 lead 24 seconds into the third quarter. It was 88-67 with 6:37 remaining when LA fought its way back by going on a 21-2 run to get within a basket with 1:42 remaining with 10 points from Mann and Jackson scoring nine.
“When Mitchell hit that 3-pointer, I was thinking that we didn’t want to go home,” Mann said. “I had a lot to do. They left me open and I hit my shots. The offense is going to take care of itself if you are confident in your game.”
A dunk by O’Neale and Mitchell’s pair of free throws pushed Utah’s lead back up to six, but Jackson’s 3-pointer’s with 11.1 seconds remaining cut the advantage in half heading into the fourth quarter.
The first half saw 12 lead changes. Rajon Rondo’s layup with 9:17 remaining in the second quarter gave LA a 41-40 lead before Utah outscored the Clippers 33-10 the remainder of the half to take a 72-50 advantage at the break.
The Jazz went on a 21-2 run that included 17 straight points by Clarkson, including a pair of 3-pointers.
76ERS 104, HAWKS 99
ATLANTA — The Philadelphia 76ers remained confident after blowing big leads in back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks and continued to avoid self-doubt after falling behind by 12 early in Game 6.
Finally, the 76ers showed their belief in their talent, and their No. 1 seed, were justified.
Seth Curry hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points and the 76ers avoided elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinal series by beating the Hawks 104-99 on Friday night.
The 76ers overcame Trae Young’s 34-point effort to force Game 7 on Sunday night in Philadelphia.
“You saw the fight and grit of a whole group,” said Tobias Harris, who also had 24 points.
Harris made four free throws in the final 13 seconds to protect the lead. Joel Embiid added 22 points and 13 rebounds.
“Tonight I think we showed that mental toughness and came out on top,” Ben Simmons said.
Curry made six of nine 3s as he served as Philadelphia’s answer for Young’s long-distance shooting.
“It’s fun. It’s a lot of fun,” Curry said. “That’s a great team over there. … You’ve just got to weather the storm and come back at them at the other end.”
Young’s long 3, just before the shot clock expired, cut Philadelphia’s lead to 94-93. Embiid answered with a basket. Free throws by Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who scored 16 points off the bench, pushed the advantage to 98-93.
Danilo Gallinari’s jam with 20 seconds remaining cut the lead to three points but the 76ers made six of six free throws to close the game.
The Associated Press’ Charles Odum contributed to this report.