UTAH JAZZ

Snyder On Jazz Mitchell: ‘He Wants To Be Out There’

May 5, 2021, 6:16 PM | Updated: 6:23 pm

Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder and Donovan Mitchell (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)...

Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder and Donovan Mitchell (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the Utah Jazz prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs tonight, they do so with the understanding that Donovan Mitchell will miss his tenth straight game with a sprained ankle.

The All-Star guard injured his ankle on April 16 against the Indiana Pacers and hasn’t seen the floor since. Though the Jazz are set to re-evaluate the injury at the end of the week, coach Quin Snyder indicated Mitchell is anxious to return to the floor.

“He’s competitive, he wants to be out there,” Snyder said. “But I think he also understands that it’s important for him to be in a good place, particularly at this point in the year.”

The Jazz have missed Mitchell over the last three weeks, seeing their 2.5 game lead over the Phoenix Suns evaporate into a half-game deficit with just seven games left to play in the season.

Even if Mitchell were to be cleared this weekend, he’d likely only have four games to get back into rhythm before the playoffs, three of which would be played on the road.

Though the Jazz haven’t given specific updates on how quickly Mitchell could return, Snyder did discuss the difficulty associated with not knowing exactly when the fourth-year guard could return.

“It’s not like breaking a bone or something like that where all of a sudden the bone is healed and you’re ready to go,” Snyder said.

Further complicating the issue, backcourt teammate Mike Conley will miss his fifth consecutive game for the Jazz after re-aggravating a hamstring injury suffered earlier in the season.

The Jazz have dealt with injuries before heading into the postseason, having lost Bojan Bogdanovic last year during the final eight games of the regular season and into the playoffs.

However, this is the first time the Jazz have been without their entire starting backcourt for an extended period of time. Despite their absence, Snyder thinks his team can continue to improve before the playoffs.

“As far as the team’s focus and preparation for what you want to do, I think we can still do some things that will help us,” Snyder said. “And then getting those guys back, hopefully be even better.”

  • Utah Jazz Scoreboard

  • Utah Jazz Team Leaders

  • Utah Jazz Standings

Utah Jazz

Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Patty Mills #8 of the Utah Jazz...

Ben Anderson

Familiar Problems Plague Jazz In Loss To Bucks

Despite a strong first half, the Utah Jazz fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 123-100 to drop to 1-7 on the season.

17 hours ago

Utah Jazz Milwaukee Bucks...

Ben Anderson and Chandler Holt

Utah Jazz Sputter In Second Half, Fall To Bucks In Milwaukee

The Utah Jazz got off to a hot start in Milwaukee before eventually falling flat in the second half and dropping to the Bucks.

18 hours ago

Jordan-Clarkson-Utah-Jazz-NBA...

Chandler Holt

Jazz Unleash Barrage Of First-Half Threes Against Bucks In Milwaukee

The Utah Jazz have been far from an efficient team to start the season but they made it rain in Milwaukee on Thursday.

19 hours ago

Isaiah Collier (13) of the Utah Jazz puts up a shot during a NBA preseason game against the Houston...

Ben Anderson

Jazz Rookie Isaiah Collier Could Make NBA Debut Against Bucks

The Utah Jazz could see rookie Isaiah Collier make his NBA debut on Thursday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. 

1 day ago

Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs...

Brian Preece

Utah Jazz Forward Taylor Hendricks Undergoes Successful Surgery

Second-year Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks underwent successful surgery to repair a broken leg Hendricks suffered on October 28.

2 days ago

Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs drives past Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz...

Ben Anderson

Utah Jazz Mailbag: How Many Losses Is Too Many?

Welcome to the KSL Sports mailbag where this week we ask if it's possible for the Utah Jazz to lose too many games this season.

3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Northern Utah High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in all of Northern Utah, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Salt Lake County, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

game night live...

How To Watch Game Night Live: Park City Miners @ Spanish Fork Dons

Round three of the UHSAA football playoffs is on tap with spectacular playoff matchups around the Beehive State. Winners move on to the semifinals next weekend, and the 2024 high school football season inches toward its end.

Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week...

Utah County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep football players in Utah County. It honors athletes for their performances on the gridiron.

Farmington High School...

American Fork Outlasts Farmington In Defensive Battle

Twelfth-seeded American Fork put together a stout defensive performance, shutting down the Farmington Phoenix in a 21-17 win.

...

Northern Utah High School Player of the Week – Week 11

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in all of Northern Utah, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

Snyder On Jazz Mitchell: ‘He Wants To Be Out There’