Mann scores career-high 39, Clippers eliminate Jazz 131-119

The fourth-seeded Clippers will face second-seeded Phoenix in the Western Conference finals. Game 1 is Sunday in Phoenix. Los Angeles won two of the three games in the regular season.

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.

“You felt the monkey off of the Clippers’ back in terms of getting out of the second round,” said George, who had 28 points. “It was just a special night. You know, you felt it, the cheers, the excitement.

“The playoffs are about grit. It’s about fighting. It’s about whatever it takes, and time after time, I think we’ve shown that.”

Mann — who had 25 points in the first five games of the series — helped bring the Clippers back 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 was 15 of 21 from the field and also became just the third player in franchise history to make at least seven 3s in a postseason game.

“You saw a full complete game from a second-year player,” said George of Mann. “I mean, you saw him stretch the floor. You saw him rebound, muscle his way to the basket. You just saw so many flashes of so many different things. He did it in the most crucial part of the game.”