Superstar Spida Takes Over, Outduels OKC Backcourt In Jazz Opener
Oct 23, 2019, 10:00 PM | Updated: 10:13 pm
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz attempts a dunk over Mike Muscala #33 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during an opening night game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Donovan Mitchell. Wow. The Jazz shooting guard entered superstar mode and put on a highlight reel performance and led Utah to a win in the team’s season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mitchell put the team on his back and battled against an impressive OKC backcourt that features a future hall of fame superstar and an up-and-coming young star.
The third-year Jazzman carried the home team to 100-95 win over the Thunder on Wednesday, October 23.
The Utah star posted an impressive and efficient 32 points in the victory.
Donovan Mitchell going to the rim with a purpose #TakeNote #utahjazz https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ pic.twitter.com/3stkyAWBW3
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 24, 2019
Mitchell recorded a game-high 32 points on 14-22 shooting including 1-3 on three-pointers.
The guard added 12 rebounds and 3 assists in 36 minutes on the court.
Mitchell became the fourth Jazz player to post a double-double of more than 30 points and 10 rebounds in a Utah season opener. The other three players were Karl Malone, Carlos Boozer, and Adrian Dantley.
ＵＮＣＯＮＣＩＯＵＳ#TakeNote #TakeNote #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/q75loNS0ij
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 24, 2019
Wednesday night was the 29th time in Mitchell’s career that he’s eclipsed the 30-point mark in a game.
Donovan Mitchell.
Extremely good. #TakeNote
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 24, 2019
He recorded 14 points in the final quarter of the game. Mitchell helped the Jazz push ahead of the Thunder with a 17-6 run in the middle of the fourth quarter.
The budding Jazz superstar outdueled second-year Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had a career-high 26 points on the night.
25 points.
That’s a new career high for Shai. #ThunderUP by 3 late Q3. pic.twitter.com/VVpgeVQSBB— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 24, 2019
Future Chris Paul added 22 points as the Thunder backcourt outscored the Jazz’s backcourt of Mitchell and Mike Conley.
Conley had a less than stellar debut in a Jazz uniform. The former Memphis Grizzlies point guard recorded 5 points on 1-16 from the field and 0-6 from downtown. Conley tied with fellow Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiary for game-high 5 assists.
Mitchell’s stellar showing was enough to overcome Conley’s shooting slump and lead the Jazz to a five-point victory and begin the season with a 1-0 record for the third straight season.
📹| "We really got after it on the defensive end and we converted down the stretch."#WalkoffInterview | @LittleCaesarsSP pic.twitter.com/vv49FQycmq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 24, 2019
The Utah guard and the Jazz travel to Los Angeles for their second game of the season. The Lakers host the Jazz on Friday, October 25 at 8:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will be televised on ESPN.
