This August 17, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, in a “bubble” in Orlando, that the NBA has taken up residence. After the first edition of the “play-in”, it's time for the playoffs with Game 1 between the Jazz of young Donovan Mitchell and the Nuggets of the Jokic-Murray duo. In this hushed atmosphere, behind closed doors, there is thus a lot of clumsiness on both sides, and the two teams are only 2/11 behind in total after a few minutes of play.
The duos Ingles/Gobert and Murray/Jokic then get going, but it's Denver who really gets going thanks to the outside missiles of Michael Porter Jr and Torrey Craig. The poor passage of the Utah bench doesn't help matters for the Salt Lake City men either, who find themselves a little behind (31-25) after 12 minutes.
Fortunately, Jordan Clarkson managed a few improbable shots before Donovan Mitchell woke up.
Donovan Mitchell drives the Nuggets crazy
The guard single-handedly revives his team for a 10-0 run that puts the teams back on a level playing field (43-43). Jamal Murray immediately responds with a 7-0 run that puts Denver back in the lead, even though Donovan Mitchell is completely unstoppable in the second quarter, with 17 of his 19 points. The Nuggets had to display diabolical shooting from afar (11/23 at halftime) to maintain a slight lead (59-52).
Donovan Mitchell is still hot after the locker room, while Colorado's shooters have calmed down. Fortunately, Monte Morris is valuable, because Nikola Jokic loses a ball on a throw-in before being blocked by Rudy Gobert. And it's the Jazz who take control (78-83) of the game.
Paul Millsap and Jerami Grant restart the 3-point score, before Nikola Jokic and Donovan Mitchell exchange baskets. Jamal Murray comes to take over from his Serbian teammate while the Jazz guard approaches the franchise record in playoffs, held by Karl Malone with 50 points since 2000.
Jamal Murray responds in style in “money time”
Mike Malone is forced to replace Michael Porter Jr, who has been discreet offensively for a long time and targeted defensively, but Torrey Craig is also unable to contain Donovan Mitchell, and he comes out for six fouls.
“Spida” and Jamal Murray engage in an incredible duel, but it is Nikola Jokic who has the match ball. Badly hampered by Rudy Gobert, his winning shot bounces off the circle and the two teams go into overtime (115-115). The opportunity to see the Murray – Mitchell duel continue in the very highest spheres.
Donovan Mitchell has erased Karl Malone from the records and he becomes the youngest player, since Michael Jordan and his 63 points against the Celtics in 1986, to score more than 50 points in a playoff game. But there again, it will not be enough because the turnovers multiply for Utah, while Jamal Murray is imperial.
And when Nikola Jokic arrives in support, it's too much for Donovan Mitchell, who nevertheless finishes with 57 points!
Author of 36 points and 9 assists, Jamal Murray was incredible in the “money time”, Nikola Jokic (29 points, 10 rebounds) having been more withdrawn in the hot moments. But Denver still snatches this first important match, and if such a performance from Donovan Mitchell is not enough, it does not look good for the Jazz… Except that the series will be incredible until the end, and that everything will be decided on a shot at the buzzer of Game 7…
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers attempted; LF = Free throws made / Free throws attempted; O = Offensive rebound; D = Defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose balls; Ct: Blocks; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the court; Pts = Points; Eval: Player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
