When the Los Angeles Clippers lost superstar Kawhi Leonard to an apparent knee injury following Game 4 of the second round, many assumed the momentum of the 2-2 series would swing heavily in the Utah Jazz’s favor.
Instead, the Clippers rallied in both Game 5 and Game 6, stunning the Jazz and advancing to their first Western Conference Finals in the franchise’s 51-year history.
One main reason for their unprecedented success is the sterling play of shooting guard Terance Mann, who scored 13 points and was plus-15 in a 119-111 Game 5 win and erupted for 39 on 15-of-21 shooting as the Clippers erased a 25-point deficit to steal Game 6, 131-119.