Utah Jazz finish off Grizzlies in Game 5 rout, advance to second round for first time in three seasons
Jazz race out to huge advantage, cruise to 126-110 victory at Vivint Arena; now await winner of Clippers-Mavericks series.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz fans Bryan Schiller, left, and Josh Willard get ready to take in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brothers Gabe, 7, left, and Isaac Harrington, 8, pose for a photo as they get ready to attend Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT with the Jazz taking on the Memphis Grizzlies.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A small memorial for former Jazz player Mark Eaton is erected on the Jazz note in front of Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, before the start of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A small memorial for former Jazz player Mark Eaton is erected on the Jazz note in front of Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, before the start of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Seinfeld family including Zach, dad Roy, Jake and Ben, from left, pose for a photograph before the start of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans pose for photos before the start of Game 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Team T-shirt colors are stretched over seats before the start of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT, as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) warms up with the team before the start of Game 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies in their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young Jazz fans get ready to take in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) puts the pressure on Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen (3) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) puts the pressure on Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen (3) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) gets upended in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) tries to block Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) tries to block Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) tries to move past the Jazz defense in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) lays one up past Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) goes up for a jump ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen (3) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) tries to block Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune)Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) puts the block on Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) celebrates a three pointer in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) knocks the ball out of the hands of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) tries to get past the wingspan of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) is fouled by Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) gets tangled in the Memphis defense in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates his shot in the final seconds of the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) battles Memphis for the rebound in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Derrick Favors (15) and Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) help Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) off the floor in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT, against the Memphis Grizzlies.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) opts for another choice as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is cheered by fans after shooting a three pointer in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks over the Memphis defense in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles (2) passes to an open teammate in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) celebrates a basket in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) chases down a ball in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) nails the three pointer in the finals seconds of the first half over Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) celebrates their 126-110 win over Memphis to advance in the playoffs following Game 5 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) is congratulated by Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) following the Jazz 126-110 to close out Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates their 126-110 win over Memphis to advance in the playoffs following Game 5 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates their teams 126-110 win over Memphis as Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) congratulates him following the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates their 126-110 win over Memphis to advance in the playoffs following Game 5 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates their 126-110 win over Memphis to advance in the playoffs following Game 5 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates with teammates in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) try to double up on Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) try to double up on Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) pushes past Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT.
Utah Jazz fans have been waiting all series long for their team to put the hammer down on the young-and-overmatched-but-resilient Memphis Grizzlies.
No time like Wednesday’s closeout Game 5 to do it.
The Jazz drilled nine 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Donovan Mitchell racked up 26 points by halftime. Utah stretched its advantage past the 30-point mark just three minutes and change into the third quarter. And the fourth … well, that was an all-but-forgettable victory lap.
And while it’s accomplishment, it’s not one the team will be satisfied with for long.
“This one was huge because I haven’t done this since my rookie year, you know? For me personally, it’s just something that I’ve wanted to accomplish. But it’s not the end goal,” Mitchell said. “… We didn’t come this far to just win one series, and be like, ‘Oh, we didn’t lose a 3-1 [lead] like we did last year. This is just one series. We gotta come out here and do it again. And again and again. We’ll savor the moment, enjoy it, ’cause it’s been three years, but at the same time, we have a job to do.”
To that point, they now await the winner of the 4-vs.-5 series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.
Naturally, there had to be an asterisk to it all.
Now looming over the team is the status of All-Star point guard Mike Conley, who checked out of the game at the 8:58 mark of the second quarter, and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at halftime, owing to right hamstring soreness.
Conley missed 21 games this season owing to that very injury — including nine in a row down the stretch run of the regular season.
He had been brilliant all series long against the Grizzlies, the franchise he spent the first 12 seasons of his career with. But he couldn’t close it out. He totaled seven points and two assists in 11:35 of game time before checking out for good.
Conley said he is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday morning, and while he maintained optimism that he’d be ready to go for the Western Conference semifinal opener, his status for that round is now very much in question.
The Jazz, of course, have proven exceedingly adept at surviving short-handed, and Wednesday was no different.
They hit 14 of their first 18 shots overall, including 7 of 9 from beyond the arc, in opening up a 47-27 lead after the first quarter.
“Setting the tone was huge. We did that as a unit on both ends of the floor,” said Mitchell. “But [it was] understanding that you can’t give a team like that life; you saw it at the end of the game — you give them some glimmer of hope and then they come out there and start making shots. So we just wanted to try and take that from them early.”
They weren’t able to keep that pace up, obviously, but some elite performances from Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and some great ones from Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, and Jordan Clarkson kept them well in control.
Mitchell went into the break with 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3. He’d finish the game with 30 points, six rebounds and 10 assists.
Gobert had a typically dominant and efficient performance racking up 23 points (on 10-for-13 shooting), plus 15 boards and three blocks.
Bogdanovic had a hot-shooting first half and totaled 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. O’Neale was aggressive with his shooting, and notched 17 points on 7-for-11 from the field. And Clarkson overcame a slow start to finish with 24 off the bench.
The Grizzlies finally waved the white flag with 2:46 to play, emptying the bench down 20.
The Jazz did the same seconds later.
And with the deep reserves’ entry into game came some measure of relief, some exorcism of demons, some ability to at least temporarily quiet the detractors who’ve been wondering ever since last year’s meltdown against the Nuggets whether this team has the mental fortitude to succeed in the playoffs.
Coach Quin Snyder, naturally, didn’t see much reason to dwell on the subject.
“Well, I think it shows that last year is last year and this year is this year; Game 3 is Game 3 and Game 5 is Game 5,” he said. “The thing about this time of year is that it’s as important to be able to forget as it is to be able to remember. And I think our guys have been focused on controlling what we can control.”
His players, however, had no problem acknowledging how eager they were to get that first-round monkey off their back, to get the lingering bad taste from last season’s loss to the Nuggets out of their mouths.
“We obviously knew and felt the underlying pressure of being up 3-1 again, but at the same time, we also know that this team is different. This team has grown a lot since we learned a lot from that,” Conley said. “Those growing pains are necessary — if you want to win a championship, you have to go through those years where you have situations like that. And hopefully that was our lesson learned. We came out tonight really locked in. You could tell from the first possession how we were going to come out play. And it was beautiful to be a part of a win like that.”
Now, the Jazz turn their attention to Conley’s health, and to facing either the Clippers or Mavericks. Those teams will have at least one more game to go in their series after Dallas secured a 3-2 series lead later Wednesday night.
In the meantime, Utah has a bit to celebrate. But also plenty to look forward to.
Four wins down. Twelve more to go.
“Memphis is a really tough team — they gave us a fight every single night. They have a lot of talent. It was a great first round for us — every game was a battle, and we definitely got better by facing this team. So give them a little shout-out,” said Gobert. “[As for] the doubters, there’s always gonna be doubters. But we know where we want to be as a team, we know the work that we’ve put in, we know that we’re only gonna keep getting better.”