Mitchell, Jazz Fan Combine To Force Denver Turnover In Fourth Quarter

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, with the help of a fan, made life difficult for Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton.

With 1:14 remaining in the game with the Jazz up on the Nuggets 113-107, Mitchell was set to guard Barton on an inbounds pass. Before the play began, Mitchell made a nearby Jazz fan the team’s sixth man.

“I told him, I had asked him just yell in his ears,” said Mitchell when recounting the moment after the game. “That’s what I kept saying, just yell at him.”

Jazz fan in black hat and sweater giving it to Barton as he tries to inbound. Mitchell denying entry. 5 second violation. Mitchell high-fives Jazz fan. We don’t deserve Donovan Mitchell. What a man. pic.twitter.com/czkGXxxPCy

— Zach Bloxham (@zblox) January 24, 2019

The plan worked as the fan, clad in a black hat and sweater gave Barton the business as Mitchell denied an inbounds pass. The result was a rare five-second violation and a Denver turnover, giving the Jazz the ball back at a critical juncture in the game.

After the referee blew the whistle and called the violation, Mitchell congratulated the fan and honorary teammate of sorts with a high-five.

📹| "I said, 'Just yell in his ears,' … that's why I gave him a high-five, 'cause he was in his ear from the beginning." pic.twitter.com/q6nKkflNJ0

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 24, 2019

“If you watch, they were really after it, that’s why I gave him a high-five, because he was in his ear from the beginning. I appreciate the crowd’s aggressiveness, I guess you could say,” said Mitchell.

The Jazz went on to win a critical Western Conference matchup, 114-108.