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Utah Jazz-LA Clippers buzz: Is Donovan Mitchell the best Jazz player ever? Plus, Mitchell’s injury scare, Jazz miss Mike Conley

Donovan Mitchell debate during the same game he appeared to tweak an ankle, Mike Conley is missed, Jazz can’t make layups, Paul George arrives and other topics on social media during Game 3.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/54006734-1c8a-44f5-bd23-9f13e5f36954.png Alex Vejar
 | June 12, 2021, 7:02 p.m.
| Updated: 9:29 p.m.

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, left, reaches for a rebound along with Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the second half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, June 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Utah Jazz dropped their first game of the series to the L.A. Clippers on Saturday, 132-106. The Jazz got off to a quick start, but things went downhill from there as Kawhi Leonard guarded Donovan Mitchell and Paul George finally had a strong game.

Those topics and more were what people on social media discussed during Game 3 between the Utah Jazz and L.A. Clippers.

Is Donovan Mitchell the best Jazz player ever?

Simply put? No. Doris Burke and Mark Jones on ABC referenced what their ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith said Friday about Mitchell, and basically disagreed with him.

For reference, here is what Smith said.

Fans watching the ABC broadcast then started weighing in on the debate themselves, and also praising Burke for speaking what they felt was the truth.

Some people even decided to be funny about the whole discussion.

Donovan Mitchell leaves court with apparent injury

The Jazz’s star player appeared to land awkwardly after a layup late in the fourth quarter. He was seen limping into the tunnel toward the locker room, but then came back to the sideline and had a conversation with coach Quin Snyder before eventually sitting.

Mitchelle seemed no worse for the wear, but fans were worried nonetheless.

Some people even posted on Twitter that the series was already over due to Mitchell’s scare.

However, a reporter said Mitchell was actually able to return to the game. At that point, though, the game was out of reach.

Jazz missing Mike Conley

Utah’s starting point guard missed his third straight game with a right hamstring injury. It didn’t matter in the first two games, but the Jazz trailed practically all night in Game 3.

With how the Jazz played, it got fans saying it’s time Conley gets back to the floor.

Jazz missing layups

The Jazz continued their offensive struggles in the third quarter. But nothing hurt like the misses that came at close range and prevented them from closing the gap built by the Clippers.

Paul George goes off

There’s been a lot of talk about how Paul George isn’t good in the playoffs, is overrated, doesn’t deserve the nickname of “Playoff P” that he gave himself, etc. But George in the first half of Game 3 showed everyone why he’s considered one of the best players in the NBA.

Mitchell run

After not scoring for the entire first quarter and part of the second, he finally started to get going. He heated up so much, in fact, that he scored 16 straight points for the Jazz in the second quarter.

Mitchell’s flurry got people talking.

Kawhi Leonard guards Mitchell

Leonard is L.A.’s most talented and dogged perimeter defender. And in an effort to slow down Donovan Mitchell’s production over the first two games of the series, the Clippers opted to give Leonard the assignment. Early on, fans on social media thought Leonard was effective.

It worked, at least initially. Mitchell went scoreless in the opening quarter.

Joe Ingles hot to trot

Ingles started the game by quickly making a pair of wide-open 3-pointers, forcing the Clippers to take an early timeout.




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