Donovan Mitchell’s Late Bucket Gives Jazz Road Win Over Oklahoma City Thunder
Dec 28, 2020, 8:33 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2020, 9:19 am
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) walks up court after missing a shot in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz pulled off a 110-109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road as Donovan Mitchell scored the eventual game-winning bucket.
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Donovan Mitchell put the Jazz ahead by one with 7 seconds left after he scored a floater off the glass. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeious-Alexander couldn’t get the layup to go in the final seconds as the Jazz secured the win.
It was a complete effort for the Jazz to get the win after the Thunder jumped out to a 14-4 lead to start the game. Utah continued to crawl back each time that Oklahoma City took the lead.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 23 points, including 17 points in the second half. He shot 8-of-17 from the field and 5-for-9 from downtown.
The @utahjazz pull out a tough fought victory over the @okcthunder 110-109.
Bojan Bogdanovic has 23 to lead the Jazz, Mitchell and Conley have 20 each. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/kDbrt6lnES
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 29, 2020
Win Snaps Regular Season Skid In Oklahoma City
Entering Monday’s game, the Jazz lost 17 straight regular season games in Oklahoma City. Their last win was on Halloween night in 2010. This was also the first time that the Jazz returned to Oklahoma City since March 11 when the game was postponed, causing the rest of the NBA and the sports world to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points, pulled down two rebounds and dished out 5 assists. He shot 8-of-23 from the field and 2-for-10 from downtown. Rudy Gobert had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. Jordan Clarkson chipped in 16 points off the bench.
The Jazz shot 50 percent from the floor, 36 percent from downtown and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Luguentz Dort led all scorers with 26 points, shooting 9-for-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 23 points and 7 assists. Former Jazzman George Hill had 14 points. Al Horford recorded 11 points, 5 boards and 4 assists.
Donovan Mitchell hits the tough runner to give the @utahJazz the lead with 7 seconds left to play.
Timeout @okcthunder with the Jazz lead 110-109. #TakeNote
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 29, 2020
Mike Conley’s Near Triple-Double
Mike Conley nearly had a triple-double, recording 20 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Had he picked up the one assist needed to pick up the triple-double, it would’ve been the first of his career.
It also would’ve been the first triple double for the Jazz since Carlos Boozer in 2008.
The Jazz improved their record to 2-1 on the season. They will return to Vivint Smart Home Arena on Thursday, December 31 to take on the Phoenix Suns. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. MST and will be televised on AT&T SportsNet.
