Mitchell First Jazz Player To Average 30+ Points In 10-Game Stretch Since Malone

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After scoring 35 points in their win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is in rare company in Jazz history with his recent run.

The second-year player from Louisville is the first Jazz player since Karl Malone in 1998 to score 35 points or more in back-to-back games.

Mitchell is also averaging 30 points per game over the last 10 games. The last Jazz player to do the same was Malone during that stretch where he had back-to-back 35-point games.

Even though they are two completely different players in two completely different eras in the NBA, let’s compare the 10 game run by Mitchell and Malone.

Donovan Mitchell in 2019

Mitchell is 22 years old and has scored 303 points to average 30.3 points per game in the last 10 games.

The Jazz went 8-2 during that stretch. Mitchell shot 107-of-225 from the field for 47 percent. He made 32-of-75 from the three point line for 42 percent and 57-for-71 from the free throw line for 80 percent.

He racked up the following point totals:

• 26 points at Detroit, January 5
• 26 points at Milwaukee, January 7
• 33 points vs. Orlando, January 9
• 33 points vs. Los Angeles Lakers, January 11
• 34 points vs. Chicago, January 12
• 28 points vs. Detroit, January 14
• 28 points at Los Angeles Clippers, January 16
• 24 points vs. Cleveland, January 18
• 36 points vs. Portland, January 21
• 35 points vs. Denver, January 23

Mitchell has averaged 4.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during the 10-game stretch.

Karl Malone in 1998

When the “Mailman” averaged 30 points in a 10 game stretch was the last 10 games of the regular season that Malone played in from April 1 to April 19. He averaged 32.2 points per game during that span.

Malone did it at 35 years old.

He posted the following point totals:

• 29 points vs. Portland, April 1
• 22 points vs. Denver, April 3
• 25 points at Vancouver, April 5
• 56 points at Golden State, April 7
• 32 points vs. San Antonio, April 8
• 37 points at Minnesota, April 11
• 44 points vs. Minnesota, April 14
• 21 points vs. Sacramento, April 16
• 29 points at Phoenix, April 17
• 27 points at Los Angeles Lakers, April 19

Ironically, the Jazz also went 8-2 during the stretch. Malone shot 114-for-213 from the field for 53 percent. He attempted three shots from beyond the arc, making just one and went 93-of-119 from the free throw line for 78 percent.

Malone averaged 9.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game in that 10-game span.

The Jazz legend won his first MVP the season before the 1997-98 year and will win his second award the next season.

Utah finished with a 62-20 record and was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They beat the Houston Rockets in five games in the first round 3-2. The Jazz eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in the second round four games to one.

The Jazz swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals 4-0 to return to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season. They lost the Chicago Bulls in six games.