Mitchell lifts Jazz past Thunder 102-95 to even series
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) It wasn't even clear until an hour before the game if Utah rookie Donovan Mitchell was going to play in Game 2 against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder probably wish he hadn't.
Mitchell, who played with a bruised left foot, scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz defeat Oklahoma City 102-95 and tie their Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.
''I think if he was feeling something, he didn't show it and he played through it,'' Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.
Derrick Favors had career playoff bests of 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Jazz, and Ricky Rubio had 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the first playoff win of his seven-year career.
Mitchell did his damage attacking the basket. He missed all seven of his 3-pointers, but made 10 of 18 from inside the arc and eight of nine free throws. Mitchell said center Rudy Gobert told him to quit settling for jumpers.
''He let me know I went 0 of 7 from 3 and I'm letting guys off the hook,'' Mitchell said. ''We've got to keep applying pressure and getting to the rim.''
Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds for the Thunder. Paul George, who scored 36 points in Game 1, finished with 18 on 6-for-21 shooting. Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points, but made just six of 18 shots.
''We just have to be aggressive,'' Westbrook said. ''We miss and make shots. Shots are going to fall. Those guys (George and Anthony) are unbelievable scorers, and we have trusted those guys all season long, and we will continue to do that.''
Gobert added 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz, who outrebounded Oklahoma City 56-46 to seize home-court advantage from the Thunder. Game 3 will be Saturday in Utah.
Oklahoma City had two chances in the final minute to trim Utah's lead with the Jazz leading 99-95, but Anthony missed 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions.
''I thought we had some good shots,'' Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. ''I think the entire game, we could have executed better.''
Utah led 53-46 at halftime behind 12 points from Rubio and 10 points and eight rebounds from Favors. Oklahoma City made just nine of 25 shots inside the 3-point line in the first half. George led the Thunder with 11 points at the break.
Thunder center Steven Adams picked up his fourth foul with 6:46 left in the third quarter and the Thunder down 65-58, yet Oklahoma City responded with a run. George's 3-pointer put the Thunder up 69-67. Oklahoma City closed the quarter on a 21-9 run to take a 79-74 lead. The Thunder held the Jazz to 7 for 23 shooting in the third quarter before Mitchell took over in the fourth.
''Miscommunication down on the defensive end at times led to (Utah's) offensive rebounds,'' Anthony said. ''Things that we can correct, things that we need to correct, things that we will correct on the next game. We threw the first punch. They punched us back tonight, and now, we've got to go on the road and get a win at their place, and that's the mindset.''
TIP-INS
Thunder: George played through a bruised right hip. He was limited in practice Tuesday. ... Japanese artist and Thunder fan Nanae Yamano attended the game. She is known for her illustrations of Thunder players. ... Adams fouled out with 2:48 to play. He finished with nine points and seven rebounds. ... F Jerami Grant scored 13 points.
Jazz: Utah opened the game with a 9-0 lead. ... Favors had nine points and seven rebounds in the first quarter. ... Jonas Jerebko scored 10 points in 12:46 as a reserve.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Westbrook, George and Anthony combined to miss all 14 field goals in the fourth quarter and score just two points.
''I don't know,'' Anthony said. ''We missed. We all missed. I don't really have an answer to what happened or an excuse to why we didn't make shots. We just didn't make shots in that fourth quarter.''
CONDOLENCES FOR POPOVICH
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich's wife, Erin, died Wednesday. Snyder coached the Spurs' G-League team, the Austin Toros, from 2007-2010.
''We know what coach Pop has meant to us, and we just want to offer our condolences for his loss,'' Snyder said.
UP NEXT
Game 3 is Saturday at Utah.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:39 | Bad pass turnover on Russell Westbrook, stolen by Donovan Mitchell | |||
11:37 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell made layup | 2-0 | |
11:13 | Corey Brewer missed driving layup | |||
11:11 | Defensive rebound by Ricky Rubio | |||
11:02 | Derrick Favors missed floating jump shot | |||
10:58 | Offensive rebound by Rudy Gobert | |||
10:58 | +2 | Rudy Gobert made dunk | 4-0 | |
10:37 | Out of bounds turnover on Steven Adams | |||
10:18 | +3 | Derrick Favors made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ricky Rubio | 7-0 | |
9:59 | Bad pass turnover on Paul George, stolen by Rudy Gobert | |||
9:55 | +2 | Rudy Gobert made dunk, assist by Derrick Favors | 9-0 | |
9:44 | +2 | Russell Westbrook made driving layup | 9-2 | |
9:25 | Donovan Mitchell missed floating jump shot | |||
9:22 | Defensive rebound by Carmelo Anthony | |||
9:19 | Carmelo Anthony missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:16 | Offensive rebound by Steven Adams | |||
9:16 | Personal foul on Ricky Rubio | |||
9:06 | +3 | Carmelo Anthony made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Russell Westbrook | 9-5 | |
8:54 | Personal foul on Russell Westbrook | |||
8:45 | Bad pass turnover on Rudy Gobert, stolen by Corey Brewer | |||
8:41 | +2 | Russell Westbrook made layup, assist by Corey Brewer | 9-7 | |
8:26 | Joe Ingles missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:23 | Team rebound | |||
8:14 | Russell Westbrook missed jump shot | |||
8:13 | Team rebound | |||
8:13 | Personal foul on Rudy Gobert | |||
8:06 | +2 | Russell Westbrook made turnaround jump shot | 9-9 | |
7:57 | Personal foul on Corey Brewer | |||
7:51 | Derrick Favors missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:47 | Defensive rebound by Paul George | |||
7:37 | Lost ball turnover on Paul George, stolen by Jae Crowder | |||
7:36 | Personal foul on Steven Adams | |||
7:30 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell made driving layup | 11-9 | |
7:21 | +3 | Paul George made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Steven Adams | 11-12 | |
7:21 | Shooting foul on Jae Crowder | |||
7:21 | Paul George missed free throw | |||
7:18 | Defensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
7:03 | +2 | Derrick Favors made hook shot, assist by Ricky Rubio | 13-12 | |
6:51 | Paul George missed jump shot | |||
6:50 | Team rebound | |||
6:50 | Personal foul on Steven Adams | |||
6:37 | Donovan Mitchell missed driving layup | |||
6:33 | Defensive rebound by Paul George | |||
6:20 | Corey Brewer missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:16 | Offensive rebound by Russell Westbrook | |||
6:16 | Russell Westbrook missed dunk | |||
6:16 | Defensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
6:06 | 3-second violation turnover on Rudy Gobert | |||
5:53 | Jerami Grant missed turnaround jump shot, blocked by Rudy Gobert | |||
5:49 | Defensive rebound by Ricky Rubio | |||
5:45 | Ricky Rubio missed jump shot | |||
5:43 | Defensive rebound by Paul George | |||
5:25 | Carmelo Anthony missed jump shot | |||
5:21 | Offensive rebound by Jerami Grant | |||
5:20 | Lost ball turnover on Jerami Grant, stolen by Ricky Rubio | |||
5:17 | Offensive foul on Jae Crowder | |||
5:17 | Offensive foul on Jae Crowder | |||
5:08 | Russell Westbrook missed turnaround jump shot | |||
5:06 | Defensive rebound by Rudy Gobert | |||
5:01 | Personal foul on Jerami Grant | |||
5:01 | +1 | Ricky Rubio made 1st of 2 free throws | 14-12 | |
5:01 | +1 | Ricky Rubio made 2nd of 2 free throws | 15-12 | |
4:46 | +3 | Russell Westbrook made 3-pt. jump shot | 15-15 | |
4:32 | Jae Crowder missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:29 | Defensive rebound by Russell Westbrook | |||
4:19 | +2 | Jerami Grant made driving layup | 15-17 | |
4:07 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell made layup, assist by Ricky Rubio | 17-17 | |
3:54 | Shooting foul on Rudy Gobert | |||
3:54 | Team rebound | |||
3:54 | Russell Westbrook missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
3:54 | +1 | Russell Westbrook made 2nd of 2 free throws | 17-18 | |
3:42 | +2 | Ricky Rubio made driving layup | 19-18 | |
3:29 | Bad pass turnover on Russell Westbrook, stolen by Jae Crowder | |||
3:29 | Personal foul on Carmelo Anthony | |||
3:29 | Jae Crowder missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
3:29 | Team rebound | |||
3:29 | +1 | Jae Crowder made 2nd of 2 free throws | 20-18 | |
3:20 | Out of bounds turnover on Jerami Grant | |||
3:07 | Derrick Favors missed jump shot | |||
3:04 | Defensive rebound by Carmelo Anthony | |||
2:48 | Out of bounds turnover on Carmelo Anthony | |||
2:27 | Royce O'Neale missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:22 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
2:17 | Donovan Mitchell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:11 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
2:10 | Derrick Favors missed dunk | |||
2:09 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
1:59 | Kicked ball violation | |||
1:50 | Bad pass turnover on Donovan Mitchell, stolen by Raymond Felton | |||
1:47 | +2 | Jerami Grant made layup, assist by Raymond Felton | 20-20 | |
1:28 | Donovan Mitchell missed driving layup | |||
1:26 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
1:24 | +2 | Derrick Favors made dunk | 22-20 | |
1:04 | Shooting foul on Jae Crowder | |||
1:04 | +1 | Carmelo Anthony made 1st of 2 free throws | 22-21 | |
1:04 | +1 | Carmelo Anthony made 2nd of 2 free throws | 22-22 | |
0:49 | Dante Exum missed driving layup | |||
0:47 | Defensive rebound by Jerami Grant | |||
0:38 | Carmelo Anthony missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:35 | Defensive rebound by Royce O'Neale | |||
0:14 | Royce O'Neale missed driving layup | |||
0:11 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
0:11 | +2 | Derrick Favors made dunk | 24-22 | |
0:04 | +3 | Paul George made 3-pt. jump shot | 24-25 | |
0:00 | +2 | Dante Exum made finger-roll layup | 26-25 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Jonas Jerebko missed driving layup | |||
11:41 | Offensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
11:41 | +2 | Jonas Jerebko made dunk | 28-25 | |
11:21 | +3 | Paul George made 3-pt. jump shot | 28-28 | |
11:21 | Shooting foul on Joe Ingles | |||
11:21 | +1 | Paul George made free throw | 28-29 | |
10:56 | 24-second shot clock violation turnover | |||
10:45 | +3 | Raymond Felton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jerami Grant | 28-32 | |
10:17 | +3 | Royce O'Neale made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Joe Ingles | 31-32 | |
9:58 | Paul George missed driving layup | |||
9:57 | Defensive rebound by Royce O'Neale | |||
9:41 | Jonas Jerebko missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:35 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Favors | |||
9:36 | +2 | Jonas Jerebko made layup, assist by Derrick Favors | 33-32 | |
9:36 | Defensive goaltending violation | |||
9:17 | Raymond Felton missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:13 | Defensive rebound by Royce O'Neale | |||
8:51 | Joe Ingles missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:51 | Defensive rebound by Paul George | |||
8:36 | +2 | Jerami Grant made layup, assist by Paul George | 33-34 | |
8:17 | Shooting foul on Jerami Grant | |||
8:17 | +1 | Derrick Favors made 1st of 2 free throws | 34-34 | |
8:17 | Derrick Favors missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
8:15 | Defensive rebound by Russell Westbrook | |||
8:10 | Personal foul on Donovan Mitchell | |||
8:03 | Russell Westbrook missed jump shot | |||
7:59 | Defensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
7:46 | Personal foul on Patrick Patterson | |||
7:39 | Jonas Jerebko missed driving layup | |||
7:37 | Offensive rebound by Rudy Gobert | |||
7:35 | +3 | Ricky Rubio made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rudy Gobert | 37-34 | |
7:16 | Paul George missed jump shot | |||
7:14 | Defensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
7:02 | +3 | Joe Ingles made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ricky Rubio | 40-34 | |
6:44 | Patrick Patterson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:41 | Offensive rebound by Steven Adams | |||
6:41 | Steven Adams missed dunk | |||
6:41 | Offensive rebound by Steven Adams | |||
6:41 | Shooting foul on Ricky Rubio | |||
6:41 | +1 | Steven Adams made 1st of 2 free throws | 40-35 | |
6:41 | Steven Adams missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
6:39 | Defensive rebound by Rudy Gobert | |||
6:25 | Donovan Mitchell missed jump shot | |||
6:22 | Defensive rebound by Steven Adams | |||
6:19 | Russell Westbrook missed |