Donovan Mitchell In Midst Of Career-Best Scoring Streak
Mar 1, 2020, 3:56 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Is Donovan Mitchell on the verge of another superstar-level stretch? If his last four games are any indication, the Jazz may once again be in the midst of an unprecedented run from their third year All-Star.
Over his last four games, Mitchell is averaging 34 points, six rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 42 percent from the three-point line. Even more impressive, Mitchell is attempting nine free throw attempts and 7.8 three-pointers per game making Mitchell’s stretch all the more efficient.
Mitchell’s 34 points per game are his best of any four-game average during his career.
The Jazz haven’t been winning but Donovan Mitchell might be beginning another one of his crazy statistical stretches.
Since the All-Star break he’s averaging 29/5/4 shooting 47/40/80 on 7.4 three-point attempts per game.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 29, 2020
Despite the Jazz 1-3 record over the last for games, Mitchell’s superstar stretches have traditionally led to long winning streaks for the team.
In January of 2019, after guards Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum, and Raul Neto all suffered injuries Michell went on a one-man tear averaging 27.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 41 percent from the three-point line. More importantly, the Jazz went 11-4 during the month, springboarding the team back into the Westen Conference playoff picture.
For the first time in his career, Mitchell was named the Western Conference player of the week for the week beginning on January 6. The Jazz guard averaged 31.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, while the Jazz went 3-1 during the week.
Donovan Mitchell is the #nba Western Conference Player of the Week. What he's done over the last five games is impressive. Check out the numbers below. (graphic by @HemaHeimuliJr ) @KSL5TV #TeamIsEverything #utahjazz pic.twitter.com/0DsT04INDb
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 14, 2019
Mitchell was again named player of the week for the conference beginning February 27 of 2019. Over the three-game stretch, Mitchell averaged 34 points per game, five rebounds, and five assists. The Jazz went undefeated during the week.
Perhaps the best sign from Mitchell’s recent success is his shooting percentage from beyond the arc. The Jazz are 66-21 during Mitchell’s career when the guard shoots better than 40 percent from the three-point line. In games when Mitchell shoots below 40 percent, the team is just 65-62. Over the final 23 games of the season, the Jazz will face 13 teams in the bottom half of the league in opponent three-point shooting percentage.
In an even more stark separation, Mitchell shoots 39 percent from three in 131 career wins, and just 30 percent from deep in 83 career losses.
Don with 32 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lH3WVjHuND
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 27, 2020
In keeping with tradition, Mitchell has a history of improving his play after the NBA All-Star break. For his career, the Louisville product averages 22 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 34 percent from the three-point line.
After the annual break, Mitchell has seen his career averages climb to 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, shooting 45 percent from the floor and 38 percent from the three-point line.
Mitchell will hope to continue his career-best scoring streak Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Jazz tip-off against Cleveland at 5 p.m. MST.