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Donovan Mitchell learning while sidelined with toe injury

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) nails a three pointer over San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes (11) during the second half of the NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) nails a three pointer over San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes (11) during the second half of the NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017.

The Jazz have been closely monitoring how rookie Donovan Mitchell makes decisions on the floor. On Thursday night, he made a bold one.

Pinstripes.

That was the pattern on the blazer Mitchell wore on the bench as Utah took on the San Antonio Spurs in their return to Vivint Smart Home Arena after a stretch of six games on the road. While the 21-year-old sensation would’ve liked to be sporting home whites with his teammates for the nationally televised game, the Jazz determined a few hours before tipoff that Mitchell wouldn’t be able to play with a toe contusion he first suffered in Cleveland last week.

Mitchell wasn’t available to media prior to the game, but coach Quin Snyder said he felt the injury could be another positive learning experience for him.

“I think there’s a couple things you can learn from it: One of them is just the process of returning to play — the things he can do to get ready,” Snyder said. “Then there’s part of it that is not always what you want as far as your health. How do you deal with it, and how do you come back from it? Anytime there’s a first, it’s an opportunity to learn from it.”

Snyder said Mitchell has been “great” in doing what he needs to do: rehab, work with trainers and other directives.

The Jazz could use Mitchell and a handful of other players back: Raul Neto missed his sixth straight game with what the Jazz have described as a concussion. Rudy Gobert is a week out from re-evaluation on his knee sprain.

Add the injuries to playing the second night of a back-to-back, and the Jazz could be forgiven for feeling like their legs have been cut out from underneath them. But Snyder said that he takes heart that the team has dealt fairly well with so many injuries so early in the season. He said he’s seen competitiveness from the Jazz regardless of who is able to play.

“Fatigue is something that everybody deals with,” he said. “The challenge for us is not to lose any kind of emotional energy and to get despondent about schedule or lineups or injuries. Just to power through, and that’s all you can do.”

The Spurs played with a banged-up group as well: Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green all sat out. Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker played, but both have only recently come off long-term injuries.

Jazz waive Griffin, sign McCree to two-way deal

A Summer League favorite has been waived in favor of youth.

The Jazz signed former Louisiana Tech standout Eric McCree to a two-way contract, bringing the 6-foot-8 forward from the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Undrafted this past offseason, McCree averaged 16.2 ppg and 5.2 rebounds in 13 G-League games.

Griffin, 27, started 19 games for the Stars as the Jazz’s first ever two-way player, but he rarely came up from the G-League after the season began. He was signed in July after a torrential Summer League, during which he wowed Salt Lake City crowds with thunderous dunks.

Briefly

Nate Wolters was a late scratch for Thursday’s game with lower back pain. … Spurs guard Patty Mills plays on the Australian National team with Jazzmen Joe Ingles and Dante Exum.