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NBA: Jazz chase momentum vs Clippers; Kawhi (knee) out

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Field Level Media/Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/16/clippers.jpg"/><figcaption>Clippers guard Luke Kennard, guard Terance Mann and forward Kawhi Leonard celebrate their Game 4, West semifinals victory against Utah on June 14. Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports/Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>Kawhi Leonard could be done for the series and is out for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals with a right knee injury, according to reports.That poses significant challenges for the Los Angeles Clippers, and could be a convincing edge for the Utah Jazz with momentum up for grabs in a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday night.Rudy Gobert believes Utah&#x27;s problems, which led to two straight blowout losses to the Clippers in Los Angeles, center around the offense.&quot;When we take tough shots, it&#x27;s hard to get back and set our defense,&quot; Gobert said. &quot;We commit fouls, we give up layups, we give up 3s. It&#x27;s a cycle -- when we play the right way offensively, we play better defensively.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/16/21/jokic-giannis-curry-luka-and-kawhi-named-first-team-all-nba">Jokic, Giannis, Curry, Luka and Kawhi named first-team All-NBA</a></li></ul>Donovan Mitchell acknowledges the offensive struggles, but also pointed at Utah&#x27;s defensive woes.&quot;They were just at a different level, but we couldn&#x27;t buy a bucket,&quot; he said. &quot;And we just didn&#x27;t guard. We&#x27;ve got to keep guarding.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/15/21/2021nbaplayoffs-clippers-jazz-game-4-result">NBA: Clippers pull even with Jazz, but Kawhi Leonard leaves early</a></li></ul>In all likelihood, the Jazz will need to improve on both sides of the court if they hope to snap a two-game skid and regain an advantage in a series tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.The Clippers&#x27; stars awakened the past two games -- Leonard and Paul George each scored at least 30 points in Games 3 and 4 victories -- while the suffocating defense and smoking offense that helped the Jazz jump out to a 2-0 series start looked rather pedestrian at Staples Center.&quot;Myself and Kawhi got full trust in each other,&quot; George said. &quot;It&#x27;s opportunities for us to score when we get switches, but then there&#x27;s opportunities to allow our teammates to be aggressive and make plays for them when we can attack our mismatches. I think it&#x27;s just a healthy mix.&quot;They were very healthy on Monday, with George and Leonard each scoring 31 points in a 118-104 win.George faces the possibility of needing another wing man to emerge on Wednesday night at Utah.&quot;These guys understand that we need them to be the head of the snake and be super aggressive,&quot; Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. said. &quot; Those guys are our leaders. We go as they go and they understand that. Guys have just been picking up the slack behind them.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/06/11/21/jordan-clarkson-welcomes-pinoy-food-truck-owners-to-jazz-clippers-game">Jordan Clarkson welcomes Pinoy food truck owners to Jazz-Clippers game</a></li></ul>The Jazz, meanwhile, continue to hope for the series debut of All-Star point guard Mike Conley and for the return of their all-around stellar play, which helped them earn the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. Coming home to 18,300 exuberant fans should help.Aside from the 0-for-21 stretch the Jazz endured in their Game 1 come-from-behind win, things couldn&#x27;t get much worse than they did in the first half Monday. The Clippers used a 10-0 run after Utah scored the first basket and increased that lead to 51-22 before Utah snapped out of its funk and made the game somewhat more competitive.&quot;We gotta stay connected, stay together,&quot; Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic said. &quot;They won two games at home. Now we have to protect our home court.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/14/21/nba-nuggets-jokic-sorry-after-ejection-vs-phoenix">NBA: Nuggets center Jokic apologizes after being ejected against Suns</a></li></ul>Clippers coach Tyronn Lue wants more of what his players brought, especially defensively, when they return to Utah. L.A.&#x27;s zone defense and smaller lineups have been particularly effective.&quot;I thought it was our defense where we set the tone,&quot; Lue said of the Game 4 win. &quot;We were able to get out in transition.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/16/21/nba-kevin-durants-49-point-explosion-leads-nets-to-3-2-series-edge">NBA: Kevin Durant&#x27;s 49-point explosion leads Nets to 3-2 series edge</a></li></ul><div>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1652779" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Leonard could be done for the series and is out for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals with a right knee injury, according to reports.

Leonard could be done for the series and is out for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals with a right knee injury, according to reports.