Jazz Hold Off Kings’ Late Rally With Big Performance From Backcourt
Nov 2, 2021, 9:41 PM | Updated: 9:48 pm
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell drives against Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz backcourt duo Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley combined for 66 points in their 119-113 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Mike Conley poured in 30 points. Bojan Bogdanovic added 20 points, along with Rudy Gobert getting another double-double with 12 points and 20 rebounds.
Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 23 points.
The @utahjazz beat the @SacramentoKings 119-113 behind a combined 66 points for Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley.
Conley crossed the 30 point mark for the first time since January 1.
The Jazz move to 6-1 on the season. pic.twitter.com/d4GV5FgQcR
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 3, 2021
First Quarter
Both teams are playing in their fourth different city in the last four games as the Jazz are returning home for one game after a three-game road trip, and the Kings are on the final leg of a four-game roadie, as a result, the defenses looked a little flat-footed.
The Jazz opened the game by getting good looks at three but went 1-6 in the opening frame.
Not in @rudygobert27's house.#TakeNote https://t.co/BXexGG78el
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 3, 2021
Donovan Mitchell has had more success against Davion Mitchell after struggling with the rookie in the second game of the season. The Jazz’s Mitchell had nine points and three assists in nine first quarter minutes.
After one, the Jazz led the Kings 33-29 despite connecting on just 2-9 threes.
Second Quarter
Jordan Clarkson is in as bad of a shooting slump as you will find right now. After going 0-7 from three against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, the guard starts this game 0-8 from the floor, including 0-7 from three, and even missed both free-throw attempts after shooting better than 90 percent last season.
Stranger yet his shots weren’t really all that close. His first three-point attempt rimmed out, but afterward, he had two shots barely graze the front of the rim while another corner three miss the basket entirely.
However, he’s hustling on defense which has allowed him to have at least some positive impact on the game.
Jordan says N🚫 pic.twitter.com/uiAZl2bal7
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 3, 2021
Clarkson’s game was a good representation of the Jazz overall in the first half as the team shot just 4-25 from three but the Jazz limited the Kings’ fast-break opportunities while their halfcourt defense allowed them to stay in the game.
Mitchell twisted his ankle late in the first half after committing a charge and ran straight to the locker room but returned to the game in the second half.
The Jazz trailed the Kings 59-58 at the break.
Third Quarter
A brilliant quarter from Donovan Mitchell pushed the Jazz guard up to 31 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Unlike some games where Mitchell is just hot from the field, the guard is making a lot of hustle plays including four crucial offensive rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell caught 🔥 in the third quarter after tweaking his ankle just before halftime.
No big deal.#TakeNote https://t.co/6gdwlMJKYq
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 3, 2021
Those are the types of plays he has to make to in the playoffs for the Jazz to win games, so it’s impressive to see him making the effort just seven games into the regular season.
Mitchell had 17 points, three assists, and two rebounds in the quarter to give the Jazz a 90-87 lead after 36 minutes.
Fourth Quarter
Mike Conley opened the fourth quarter with eight quick points, but the Jazz offense froze as soon as he checked out of the game.
The Kings went on an 11-1 run midway through the period and took a 102-101 lead after the Jazz lead by as much as nine.
Rudy Gobert made some key free throws and Mike Conley knocked down some big shots late to put the Jazz up by five with 34 seconds left. Harrison Barnes made it a two-point game with 21 seconds left after hitting a three-pointer.
After chewing time off the clock, the Kings finally fouled Donovan Mitchell with 14 seconds remaining in the game. Mitchell knocked down both free throws to make it a two-possession game.
The Jazz improved their record to 6-1. They will begin a three-game road trip in Atlanta to face the Hawks on Thursday, November 4 at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and heard on The Zone Sports Network.
