Mitchell, Gobert Connect On Smooth Play To Start Lakers/Jazz Game

SALT LAKE CITY – Jazzmen Donovan Mitchell connected with Rudy Gobert for a well run play to open Utah’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Jazz hosted the Lakers at Vivint Arena on Thursday, March 31.

With 8:41 remaining in the first quarter, Mitchell hit a rolling Gobert with a beautiful bounce pass in the lane. The Jazz center collected the pass and threw down a slam dunk.

The Mitchell-Gobert connection gave Utah an early 14-4 lead.

slick find 👀#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/jzPZFtLg7b

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 1, 2022

Midway through the quarter, Mitchell led the Jazz with eight points on 3-4 shooting, including 2-3 from beyond the arc. Gobert added four points, four rebounds, and a block during his first six minutes on the hardwood.

Spida.
Triple. pic.twitter.com/GnFJWWUWvF

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 1, 2022

This season, Mitchell is averaging 26.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per contest. Gobert averages 15.2 points per game on 71.0 percent shooting.

Lakers vs. Jazz

The Jazz will gladly welcome back Bojan Bogdanovic and Danuel House Jr. tonight when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT.

Bogdanovic has missed the last nine games with a calf strain while House Jr. has missed eight games after suffering a bone bruise in his knee.

The Jazz have struggled mightily in their absences having lost six of nine games without Bogdanovic and five of eight without House Jr.

Bogdanovic is the Jazz second-leading scorer this season averaging 18.1 points per game while shooting an efficient 45 percent from the floor and 39 percent from the three-point line.

Bojan Bogdanovic and Danuel House Jr. are set to return tonight for the @utahjazz against the @Lakers. #TakeNote https://t.co/odH0hEI1Ps

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 31, 2022

House Jr. is the Jazz best on-all ball defender and leads the team in three-point shooting percentage at 44 percent.

With both players now available against the Lakers, the Jazz are inching closer to a full rotation ahead of the playoffs.

The team will still be without Hassan Whiteside who has missed the team’s last three games with a sprained foot and is unavailable again against LA.

The @utahjazz will host a shorthanded @Lakers team tomorrow night at @vivintarena. 🎷🏀#TakeNote #LALvsUTA https://t.co/NrQjTnr4MK

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 30, 2022

Reserve guard Trent Forrest suffered a concussion after taking a stray elbow from Rudy Gobert in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and is also unavailable against the Lakers.

Forrest’s concussion is his second this season and has no set return date. The second-year guard is on a two-way contract and would have to have his deal converted to a full-time contract if the Jazz want to keep him on the roster into the playoffs.

The Lakers will be shorthanded when they travel to face the Jazz. Neither LeBron James nor Anthony Davis will be in uniform tonight at Vivint Arena.

Utah’s game against Los Angeles is broadcast on TNT and The Zone Sports Network.

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