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Postgame
Donovan Mitchell is only the 10th rookie in #NBA history to score 27 points or more in his playoff debut.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 16, 2018
He's the first to do it since Brandon Jennings in 2010.
He's only the third player to do it while grabbing double digit rebounds. pic.twitter.com/CQGPkKdjPj
Donovan Mitchell deleted his years-old pro-Paul George tweet. Man, I love Donovan Mitchell.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) April 16, 2018
Donovan Mitchell said he feels fine, just stubbed his toe.
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) April 16, 2018
.@utahjazz HC Quin Snyder speaks to the media following the loss and gives an update on Donovan Mitchell.#NBAPlayoffs postgame press conferences NOW on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/aOa559YJmt
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2018
Quin Snyder says he was pleased that the team competed the whole game but "our identity, where it's been is on the defensive end, and that's where we need to be better."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 16, 2018
Billy Donovan: we're going to need to play better in Game 2
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 16, 2018
Fourth Quarter
Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - Utah Jazz 108
Playoff AB made a late appearance in garbage time and made it everything but garbage time. The Thunder are breathing a sigh of relief, but AB’s late game tear made the Thunder have to keep their starters in for the rest of the game while Quin Snyder was able to rest his to fight another day. Alec Burks finished with 10 points in only 2 minutes.
Donovan Mitchell went down with a toe injury, Rudy Gobert was beasted by Steven Adams, Playoff P lit up the Utah Jazz defense. The Utah Jazz reserves checked back in and made a run to make the final score look less like a blowout, but Utah is going to have a lot to review. Utah will need every last minute of rest between tonight and the next game so that Donovan Mitchell is able to go in Game 2. Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and one sore toe.
One thing that we might want to look at is Dante Exum was the only one besides Alec Burks’ 4th quarter LOL breakout and Jae Crowder who could manufacture points for Utah. If Royce is getting completely taken out of the game offensively, Utah can’t afford for him to be on the court. Quin might have to make a deal with the devil and play Burks and Exum more. Does he sign his soul away?
It's over. Jazz empty the bench, and the Thunder are going to win Game 1.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 16, 2018
No. 1 concern now is Donovan Mitchell's toe. No. 2 is catering Paul George's stay in Salt Lake City with whatever Gordon Hayward likes from Cafe Zupas.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) April 16, 2018
George Hill is somewhere out there wondering how Donovan Mitchell is playing through a toe injury.
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) April 16, 2018
As a borderline Rudy Gobert stan, Gobert was woefully underwhelming in this one.
— Josh Eberley (@JoshEberley) April 16, 2018
Donovan Mitchell is on his way to the Thunder locker-room to get x-rays of his foot acccording to @tonyparkszone
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 16, 2018
DONOVAN MITCHELL IS GOING TO THE LOCKER-ROOM. WAS IN MAJOR PAIN IN HIS FOOT
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) April 16, 2018
DANGER, DANGER!!! Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell goes to locker room with injury to his foot. https://t.co/5qS0swM2nR
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) April 16, 2018
Third Quarter
Oklahoma City Thunder 79- Utah Jazz 72
The OKC Thunder had multiple chances to blow the doors right off of this thing, but just couldn’t get separation. “Playoff P” hit a three pointer at the end of the 3rd quarter cap another strong run. Paul George had 11 points in the 3rd quarter for a total of 31 points in the game. The Utah Jazz have to figure out a way to slow him down to have success in this game. Somehow Utah is not out of this despite the offensive rebounds surrendered, the turnovers, and careless fouls.
Donovan Mitchell is having a game we’d be proud of Gordon Hayward having last year. Donovan Mitchell as a rookie has 23 points and 10 rebounds, a double-double as a rookie. Following suit of Ben Simmons playoff game. Unfortunately for Donovan Mitchell, he plays in the Western Conference where the competition is stiffer. Do the Jazz have it in them to go on a run and reclaim the lead? We’ll see. They’ll need Rudy Gobert to have a defensive masterpiece in the 4th quarter and for someone other than Donovan to come up big.
A 23-point, 10-rebound double-double for Mitchell in less than three quarters.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 16, 2018
But how, @spidadmitchell??? #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/xuEbgEBmU9
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 16, 2018
Jazz are actually shooting better than OKC on 2-point attempts. The 3s are the killers; OKC is 9 of 19; Jazz are 6 of 18. Explains the 9-point margin.
— Kurt Kragthorpe (@tribkurt) April 16, 2018
Such a stupid foul from Jae Crowder. First of all you can't pick up a foul 92 feet from the hoop.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 16, 2018
Then you can't do it on the inbound.
Four fouls on Gobert. That's a big deal.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 16, 2018
Rivals the Draymond Green trip from the 2016 playoffs that was shown roughly 600 times. https://t.co/7jUGaGv1vS
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 15, 2018
Why is everyone always trying to beat the shit out of Ricky Rubio?
— John Karalis (@RedsArmy_John) April 15, 2018
( •_•)
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 15, 2018
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) pic.twitter.com/9HLXQB6DxM
2nd Quarter
OKC Thunder 54 - Utah Jazz 48
The Utah Jazz have come back to earth. The Utah Jazz have had trouble manufacturing points outside of Ricky Rubio in the second. Rubio has a game high 12 field goal attempts while shooting 4-12. Utah’s bench has been getting mobbed and the Thunder are slowly imposing their will on this Utah team. Call it nerves, call it being outgunned, whatever you call it, the Utah Jazz are not playing their brand of basketball.
The Utah Jazz are missing the Joe Ingles led pick and rolls. The Utah Jazz’s bench has an average +/- of -7.5 while the starters (save Derrick Favors) all have a +/- of 0 or above. Quin Snyder is going to need to make some adjustments and get the Jazz back into the flow of the game. The Jazz were slicing and dicing the Thunder to start the game. Utah has had a lot of success when they went to the hoop. Jazz are settling for looks outside. They need to go to the hoop and force this Thunder team to rotate on defense. They’re not making it hard for OKC.
“Playoff P” (Paul George) has made an appearance and already has 20 points in this game. I watched Paul George a lot during my time in Indiana, and he was a beast in the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony is cooking.
Haters will say it's photoshopped.#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/ImqPZZxZKI
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 15, 2018
“Wow he got kicked right in the Timberwoods there!”
— Brew Hoop (@brewhoop) April 15, 2018
“I uh... don’t think those were Timberwoods.”
“They weren’t? Bad angle.”
☠️☠️☠️ pic.twitter.com/npoexP5iOm
If Jazz-Thunder goes seven, there will be seven different uniform matchups on three different court designs. Tonight is the only game where the teams are wearing their 'proper' unis (Jazz in blue on road, Thunder in white at home).
— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) April 15, 2018
If we're being honest, the French used to own Oklahoma. Rudy Gobert is just taking back what is his.
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) April 15, 2018
The Utah Jazz can't afford for their bench to get jumped like this. pic.twitter.com/MtmoECgY6M
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) April 15, 2018
Jazz down 38-34 at the timeout, 5:58 left 2Q. Jazz can't be happy with Rubio off-balance jumpers as their offense... has to be more ball movement, more off-ball cutting. More blender, in other words.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 15, 2018
So glad Donovan Mitchell already came to the NBA with the nickname, Spida, because otherwise, we'd be calling him D-Mitch. That being said, he's looking very D-Wade-ish here pic.twitter.com/wkf9GtlA5l
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 15, 2018
Jazz offense has actually looked best with both Favors and Gobert on the floor
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) April 15, 2018
1st Quarter
Utah got off to hot start leading the OKC Thunder at one point 12-2. OKC got back in it and made it a game. This is going to be some series. Donovan Mitchell was the hottest thing in Oklahoma since ... I’m going to go with ... corn dogs? Anyway, good game going on so far.
This ️ Playoff ready... pic.twitter.com/ah50iApS1t
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 15, 2018
Waaaaay up for @daanteee! pic.twitter.com/HdPhV7CqHt
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 15, 2018
Game Info:
When: Sunday, Apr. 15, 2018 • 4:30 PM MT
Where: Moda Center • Portland, OR
TV: TNT, TNTOT, AT&T Sports Net - Rocky Mountain
Radio: 1280 AM The Zone, ESPN Radio
Injuries:
Thabo Sefolosha - MCL avulsion - out for the season
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Corey Brewer - Knee - Day to Day
Alex Abrines - Concussion Protocol - Day to Day
Andre Roberson - Knee - Out for season
Ground Rules
Welcome to the SLC Dunk Live Thread. This is new as we’ll have game updates throughout it. Dunkers know how this thing works, but for you lurkers ready to make the jump to Dunker, we have a few guidelines. Remember to follow our community guidelines (no swearing, trolling, excessive use of Jerry Sloan’s name in vain, no personal attacks, no debates about Utah liquor laws, etc.). Remember to have fun. Anyone who dare blasphemes that Tim Duncan was a Power Forward or John Stockton is not the best point guard of all-time will receive an automatic ban. Just kidding. But seriously.