Donovan Mitchell Explodes In Third Quarter Vs. Thunder

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Donovan Mitchell had a slow first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he didn’t let that carry over into the third quarter.

Mitchell scored just two points on 1-8 shooting through the first half of the game but exploded for 12 points in the third quarter on 4-6 shooting including 3-5 from the three-point line.

As he has done throughout his five-year NBA career, the All-Star guard didn’t need long to recalibrate his jump shot after a rocky start to the season.

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🕷 pic.twitter.com/v6vFym4MYZ

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) October 21, 2021

Early in the third quarter, Mitchell knocked down an open three-pointer and let out a sigh of relief before catching fire to finish the quarter.

After knocking down three third quarter threes, the guard took to the paint for a three-point play the old-fashioned way.

Mitchell took Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders off the dribble then finished around former Jazzman Derrick Favors in the paint, drawing a foul in the process.

Don with the & 1 (and the assist right after) 🕷#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/IajuoqvdjY

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) October 21, 2021

Thanks in part to Mitchell, the Jazz took their 12 point halftime lead and built it up to 20 heading into the final period, 83-63.

Mitchell also had four assists, three steals, a block, and a steal in 25 minutes to begin the season.