Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley both starting for Jazz vs. Clippers
Jun 18, 2021, 6:41 PM
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz high fives Mike Conley #10 against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 26, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz will have their starting backcourt for the first time in the second round of the playoffs.
Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley are both available for the Jazz and starting against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in Game 6 of the series. Both were listed as questionable heading into the pivotal game for the Jazz in a series they trail 3-2 in.
Mitchell missed the Jazz’s last 16 games of the regular season and the team’s first game of the playoffs after spraining his right ankle in mid-April. The shooting guard has appeared to aggravate the injury a few times against the Clippers and was honest after Game 5 in how it was affecting him.
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“It (expletive) sucks,” Mitchell said on being hobbled by the ankle injury.
“It’s tough when you’re trying different things that you normally do, and you see spots you can get to but you can’t.”
Despite playing through the injury, Mitchell is averaging 31.6 points per game in the postseason and shooting 44.7%.
Conley strained his right hamstring at the end of the first round and hadn’t played yet against the Clippers prior to Friday. He was expected to return for Game 3 of the series before he re-injured the hamstring.
Against the Memphis Grizzlies in five playoff games, Conley posted 17.4 points per outing.
The Phoenix Suns will draw the winner of the series in the Western Conference Finals.
