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Update, Game 3 — Conley is officially out for Game 3 after being listed as questionable ahead of the contest, according to the team. Donovan Mitchell continues to carry Utah, who holds a 2-0 lead in the series despite Conley’s absence. Expect Joe Ingles to start again in Conley’s place as the guard recovers from a hamstring strain.
Update, Game 2 — Conley has been ruled out again for Game 2 of the second round vs. the Clippers on Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. In Game 1, the Jazz were able to hold off the Clippers to win 112-109 on Tuesday night. With Conley out, the Jazz started Joe Ingles in the backcourt with Mitchell. Ingles finished with 8 points and 7 assists in 32 minutes, struggling from the field (3-of-12). Utah surely missed Conley’s ability to provide secondary scoring behind Spida, who had to drop 45 to carry the Jazz.
Utah is favored by 3.5 points heading into Game 2 tonight. The Clippers were close enough in Game 1 to picking up a big road win. You’ve got to think LA will push hard to even the series. If Conley were healthy, the Jazz would be favored by at least another point or two. Without Conley again, unless Ingles steps up, it feels like the Clippers and the points are the way to go tonight.
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Utah Jazz PG Mike Conley has been ruled out for Game 1 of the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs vs. the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Conley is dealing with a hamstring injury that has seemingly been nagging him since last year’s playoffs. He was injured again in Game 5 of the first round vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, when the Jazz clinched the series. That was last Wednesday, so the almost week off wasn’t enough to get Conley ready to go.
The Jazz entered Tuesday as 4-point favorites at home against the Clips in Game 1, getting a majority of the betting percentage at 68 over LA. The Jazz were also seeing 56 percent of the bets on the moneyline at -180 at home. With Conley sidelined, this may shift the number slightly but not by much. Utah has operated this season without Conley and Donovan Mitchell and haven’t missed a beat. Joe Ingles will likely start in the backcourt with Mitchell and 6th Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson should see an uptick in minutes as well.