This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Friday's Game 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers marked one of the biggest games for the Utah Jazz in a decade. It was the chance to advance to the second round and earn a shot at the mighty Golden State Warriors.
So, how did a mostly young, inexperienced playoff team handle the first closeout game in their careers?
Not great.
Utah sputtered offensively all night and lost to the Clippers 98-93 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center.
"I don't think the situation was too big for us," Jazz guard Rodney Hood said. "But we let missed shots affect how we played defensively tonight. We can't do that. They played more desperate than we did tonight, and we have to learn from that."
The Jazz rode the veteran shooting of Joe Johnson to a 3-2 advantage in their series against the Clippers.
But the core of this team lies at the feet of Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Hood and Derrick Favors. Making the postseason was one thing — winning games and a series was the next step.
Actually winning it Friday, taking out the Clippers and their veteran core, proved to be a different beast.
"Really it comes down at a certain point to your ability to execute and shoot the ball well," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said before the game. "I think in these types of games, it's ratcheted up another notch. It's something that we are aware of when we get out there. If there's an adjustment, we have to make it quickly."
Other than Hayward, Utah's younger players didn't play well in Game 6. Hayward struggled with his shot for three quarters, but caught fire in the fourth. His stat sheet included 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He found a bit of a rhythm in the fourth quarter and finished 9-of-20 from the field.
Gobert scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but had significant problems keeping Los Angeles center DeAndre Jordan out of the paint. Favors played a bit role, but he too struggled with Jordan's physical play.
Hood had his worst game of the series, shooting 2-of-10 from the field and missing all six of his 3-point attempts. He scored four points and struggled on both ends of the floor.
And unlike previous games in the series, Johnson wasn't there to save the Jazz. With the Clippers trapping him at every chance, Johnson went 3-of-8 from the field and scored nine points. Los Angeles refused to allow Johnson to isolate without bringing help, and he missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds.
"We have to come out and play with more confidence," Gobert said. "It's Game 7. We have to leave it all out there."
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