'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Utah Jazz were one of the favorites to make it to the playoffs this season in the Western Conference but a horrible start to the season had experts rethink their decision. A surge in the second half led them to a comfortable 5th seed and they won 50 games.
Yet, they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Houston Rockets, who were too good to handle for the Jazz. Even though they suffered disappointment in the postseason, they gave their fans a lot to cheer about throughout the regular season. Here are the top 3 individual performances from the Utah Jazz season:
#3 Rudy Gobert against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena:
Rudy Gobert has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA all season long. Even though he has not been the go-to guy on the offensive end for the Jazz, he is the reason why they are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.
Sure, people claim that he has struggles defending in the perimeter and gets exposed defensively there, but this season, he improved his game a lot and was a serviceable defender in the perimeter while being his destructive self for the opposition in the paint.
The game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 25th, 2018 was probably his best game of the season for the Jazz. He was involved both offensively and defensively for the Jazz and led them from the front to a blowout win, 117-96.
The former Defensive Player of the Year scored 18 points, shooting 70% from the field. He grabbed himself 14 rebounds, 4 of them on the offensive end of the floor. He was an enigma in defense, grabbing 1 steal and swatting a career-high 7 shots on his way to a win.
While the Jazz ended the season on a low note, getting knocked out of the first round in just 5 games, Gobert's performance in this game became a catalyst for their run in the 2nd half of the regular season.
Final stat line: 18 points, 7-10 FG, 14 rebounds, 1 steal, 7 blocks, and 3 TOs in 33 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers
#2 Donovan Mitchell against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena:
Donovan Mitchell is just a sophomore, but he has been running the Utah Jazz's offense starting from his rookie season and has led them to 2 consecutive postseason runs when nobody expected it from them. Each time they were down, Mitchell got going and brought them back up.
This season too, even in the first round exit against the Houston Rockets, Donovan Mitchell was the only consistent performer and helped them at least win a game at home in the series before they lost in 5 matches.
One of his best games this season came against the Los Angeles Lakers on 12th January 2019 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Utah. With Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum and Raul Neto all out with injuries, Mitchell stepped up to be the point guard for the Jazz and boy did he do a stupendous job.
Mitchell was amazing, scoring 33 points off 58.3% shooting from the field and he also shot a huge 80% from beyond the 3 point line. A career high 9 assists were also dished out by Mitchell in just 33 minutes. He also had 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and just 3 turnovers, leading the Jazz to a blowout 113-95 win over the Lakers.
The postseason may have been a disappointment compared to their achievements last season, but Mitchell gave the fans a great performance, one that they will not forget too quickly.
Final stat line: 33 points, 14-24 FG, 4-5 3FG, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 3 TOs in 33 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers
#1 Donovan Mitchell against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena:
In the final game of the season, the Denver Nuggets were on the road in a tough game against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. The 2nd position was at stake for them if they lost, so they were here to go for the win.
But a stunning performance by Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz to win over the Nuggets, getting them to 50 wins in the regular season. The Jazz won 118-108 and also cemented the 5th spot in the Western Conference with the win.
But Mitchell was truly unstoppable in this one. Nobody else managed to cross 20 points with Gobert coming closest with 20, as Mitchell took it upon himself to get the Jazz this win. He scored a game-high and a career-high 46 points, tying it with the 46 points he scored against the Milwaukee Bucks, also this season.
He shot 54% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc. He was involved in the other aspects of the game too as he grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 4 assists as well. He had 4 turnovers but managed to get 2 steals on the defensive end of the floor.
While the Jazz won this game, this was the best performance for Mitchell in his young NBA career and he will be looking to take it up another step and lead the Jazz past the first round in the playoffs next season.
Final game stats: 46 points, 14-26 FG, 5-8 3FG, 13-16 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 TOs in 36 minutes against the Denver Nuggets
Guess the Lakers players!
