Jazz blow out star-less Nets by 30 points

Donovan Mitchell contributed 27 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds to guide NBA-leading Utah past the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets, 118-88, on Wednesday night, March 24 (Thursday, March 25, Manila time) in Salt Lake City, giving the Jazz their first three-game winning streak in a month.

A night after leading Brooklyn to a 116-112 win at Portland, James Harden didn’t play against Utah because of a sore neck. The Nets, who had won 16 of 18, were without stars Kevin Durant (hamstring) and Kyrie Irving (family matter) yet again.

Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic each scored 18 points and Georges Niang added 15 for the Jazz. Those 3 and Mitchell combined to hit 17 three-pointers, including 5 apiece by Mitchell and Niang.

Utah sank 23-of-55 from deep (41.8%), with 10 players draining at least one.

🎷 @spidadmitchell leads @utahjazz to 17 STRAIGHT home wins!

27 PTS | 7 AST | 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/brm4hEf2I2

— NBA (@NBA) March 25, 2021

Alize Johnson led the Nets with 23 points and 15 rebounds while Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot topped Brooklyn’s starters with 14 points.

Mitchell hit a three-pointer to begin the game, and the Jazz never trailed. Utah put some space between the two teams with an early 11-0 run for a 16-4 en route to a 21-point lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

It was just the second home game since February 24 for Utah, which earned its 17th consecutive home win for a league-best 32-11 record.

Mitchell scored 20 points in the first half as Utah jumped out to a 63-38 halftime lead.

Thirteen players scored for the Jazz, who emptied the bench early in the 4th quarter.

Rudy Gobert, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a candidate for his third honor, scored only 8 points but pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.

Sixth Man of the Year contender Jordan Clarkson was among the few Utah players to struggle, shooting just 1-for-15 from the field and making only one three-pointer in 11 attempts. He finished with 3 points. – Rappler.com