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Jazz's Donovan Mitchell named NBA Western Conference rookie of the month for December

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after the Jazz defeated the Cavaliers 104-101, in NBA action Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers, in Salt Lake City, Saturday, December 30, 2017.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has been named the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Thursday afternoon.

Mitchell, who leads the Jazz with 18.3 points per game, averaged 23.1 points to go along with 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds in December.

He also produced several highlights. Mitchell, a rookie out of Louisville,scored a career-high 41 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans earlier in the month. He dropped 29 points in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He asserted himself as Utah’s top offensive option.

With Wednesday’s loss to the Pelicans, the Jazz are now 16-22 for the season. But Mitchell has vaulted himself firmly into the Rookie of the Year race with his splendid December play.

Boston forward Jayson Tatum was named the Rookie of the Month for the Eastern Conference.