Mitchell, Conley Combine For 52 Points, Lead Utah Jazz Past Detroit Pistons

Feb 2, 2021, 10:29 PM | Updated: 11:02 pm

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes to the hoop during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (Courtesy of Deseret News)

(Courtesy of Deseret News)

BY KYLE IRELAND, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Jazz backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley combined for 52 points to lead Utah in a win over the Detroit Pistons.

The Jazz hosted the Pistons at Vivint Arena on Tuesday, February 2.

Utah beat Detroit, 117-105.

The @utahjazz what ended up feeling like a nail biter 117-105.

Jazz back in first place in the West, and have the best record in the NBA.

Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz with 32 points, while Mike Conley added 20. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/grPLNd1xer

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2021

Jazz Backcourt

Mitchell dropped 32 points on 10-17 field goals, including 4-7 from three and 8-11 from the free throw stripe. He added six rebounds, one assist, and a steal during 35 minutes on the floor. It was Mitchell’s fourth game this season where he’s scored at least 30 points.

Spida with 🎱#NBAAllStar | @spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/yMptYyq95z

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2021

Conley rounded out Utah’s starting backcourt with 20 points on 7-15 shooting. He added four rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 32 minutes. It was Conley’s seventh game of 20 or more points this season.

So @MCONLEY10 hasn't been an #NBAAllStar yet and we think that's a crime that needs correcting.

RT if you agree 🔁 pic.twitter.com/vcaZpxkei1

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2021

Game Flow

The Jazz had things rolling early in the game and owned a double-digit lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Things were on repeat in the second quarter. Utah took a 23-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

At the break, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey called a timeout less than a minute into the third quarter after the Jazz began the half with a Rudy Gobert alley-oop dunk and a layup where Donovan Mitchell ran the floor past the Pistons’ defense.

The @DetroitPistons are on 10-1 run since Dwane Casey called a timeout 44 seconds into the second half.

The @utahjazz lead is down to 16, 74-58 with 8:32 left in the third quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/LV5SpaYAJ6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2021

Casey’s timeout changed Detroit’s play moving forward.

The Pistons went on to outscore the Jazz in the quarter, 31-25.

Detroit’s gritty play continued in the fourth quarter and eventually, Utah’s lead was cut to four points.

The Jazz were held without a made field goal from the 5:45 mark until Bojan Bogdanovic connected on a pair of triples on back-to-back possessions with 1:26 and 49.1 seconds left on the clock.

Bogey calls game! The Jazz hold off a furious Pistons rally in the 4th and once again have the best record in the NBA at 16-5. pic.twitter.com/WLoIXqAbHp

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 3, 2021

Utah scored the game’s final eight points to close out the 12-point victory.

Threes For Days

The Jazz finished the contest shooting 46.3 percent overall and 38.1 percent on three-pointers. Utah buried 16 of its 42 shots from beyond the arc.

With the triples, the Jazz became the first team in NBA history to make at least 15 three-pointers in 11 consecutive games.

Utah Jazz become the first team in NBA history to make 15 or more threes in 11 straight games

— David Locke (@DLocke09) February 3, 2021

Bogdanovic and Mitchell led Utah with four threes apiece.

Other Jazzman

Utah’s starting lineup combined for 91 of the team’s 117 points.

Bogdanovic had 18 points.

BOG3Y 🔁#TakeNote #DETatUTA https://t.co/4XyhodEopK

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2021

Royce O’Neale had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Jordan Clarkson led Utah’s second unit with 12 points.

just a bucket-getter#NBAAllStar | @jordanclarksons pic.twitter.com/8yosUnPYJI

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2021

Pistons’ Performance

Detroit was limited to 41.9 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from deep.

The Pistons were led by Jerami Grant’s 27 points. Josh Jackson added 22 points for Detroit’s bench.

Up Next

With the win, the Jazz improved to an NBA-best 16-5 record, including 9-2 at home.

The Jazz have now beat the Pistons 10 times in a row.

Hard to do, especially when you only see a team twice a year.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 3, 2021

Utah’s next game is against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on AT&T SportsNet and 97.5 FM.