Salt Lake City, Utah – The Utah Jazz almost let the game get away from them, but they ultimately threw the hammer down to beat the LA Clippers at home in game two.

The Jazz won 117-111 over the Clippers to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series on Thursday night. The game wasn’t the prettiest of contests, but the best team in the NBA during the regular season proved they don’t always have to win big to get a big win.

Donovan Mitchell (24) was yet again at the helm for the Jazz as they managed to hold on to home-court advantage. All throughout the game, Mitchell was in command finishing with 37 points, to lead all scorers.

The Jazz have now won six straight games during these playoffs, starting from game two of the first round when they bounced back from being shocked by the Grizzlies in the series opener.

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Utah had to find different ways to get the job done in game two, but they responded to everything the Clippers threw at them when their backs were against the wall. And like any great team, they were able to shore up their defense when they needed to hold their opponents at bay.

The Jazz’s long-range attack was also on display as they made 20 three-pointers in the game, tying a franchise playoff record.

This season’s Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert had a career night pulling down 20 rebounds, a new personal best, while Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points and Joe Ingles added 19.

Reggie Jackson stepped up to lead Los Angeles with 29 points, while perennial All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard scored 27 and 21 points respectively.

But the Clippers didn’t actually have the lead in this game until the fourth quarter, when it seemed then that the Jazz just might give the game away. LA indeed might’ve stolen the win if not for missing nine straight shots during that period. This was the closest that the Clippers had gotten to the Jazz so far in the series, but Utah still came away with the close victory.

If there’s a silver lining here, it must be that the Clippers can get the Jazz to the edge and can overcome them, but it’s now up to LA to have a lead and hopefully hold onto it.

Game three between these two teams is on Saturday, from Los Angeles.