Utah Jazz need Donovan Mitchell
*UPDATE (5/24/21) 6:05pm EST: Donovan Mitchell is scheduled to play in Game 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies
The Jazz are really missing their primary ball-handler and scorer in Donovan Mitchell, and it showed in this 112-109 Game 1 loss to the Grizzlies. Earlier on in the day, it seemed like Mitchell was set to return to the court after missing over a month with a sprained ankle, but he was ruled out prior to the game.
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Mitchell was never on the Jazz’s injury report on Sunday and it seemed like he was getting ready to suit up and play, but then Utah’s team doctors/trainers told him he was not playing and now it seems like there is some tension between him and the organization.
The young All-Star’s personal doctors had cleared him to play, but the team doctors had the ultimate say and they ruled Mitchell out for Game 1 of this series. Now, after dropping the first game of the series at home, it seems almost certain he will play in Game 2, but the questions that now remain are how long will he be able to play and if that tension between Mitchell and the organization will linger during the course of this series.
Hopefully for both of their sakes, this was just a minor incident that does not stem into something else, but if Mitchell is on a minutes restriction during this first-round series and the Grizzlies are able to pull off one of the greatest first-round upsets in NBA history, then there will be a lot of questions surrounding the Jazz and Donovan Mitchell.
