Donovan Mitchell Sneaks Layup Past Nuggets Big Man
Aug 17, 2020, 1:22 PM | Updated: Apr 26, 2021, 2:12 pm
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz passes the ball as teammate Rudy Gobert, and moves up court against Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff game at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell took over the game in the second and third quarters against the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
RELATED STORIES
In the third quarter, Mitchell weaved in and out of traffic as he was patiently going into the paint when he met Jokic at the rim. Mitchell shifted his body out while bending his right arm back to get the layup to go past Jokic.
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 17, 2020
It tied the game at 70 and it was his eighth point of the third quarter. Mitchell had 19 points in the first half, scoring 17 points in the second quarter alone.
just 27 for @spidadmitchell already pic.twitter.com/OKdaZP7xSn
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 17, 2020
Gobert followed that up with a rebound off of his own missed free throw. He drove around Jokic and laid it up with his right hand to give the Jazz a three-point lead late in the third quarter.
The Jazz climbed back into the game with they started the third quarter on a 7-0 run to tie the game. Denver extended the lead once again but the Jazz kept fighting and eventually took the lead.
The Jazz were without Mike Conley, who is with his family after the birth of their son on Sunday. Juwan Morgan started in place on Conley to give the Jazz more height and a presence on the perimeter.
