Donovan Mitchell was the biggest absence of Sunday night game between his Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies. The guard appeared to have everything ready to take the court before the team decided to sit him for the first duel of the series.
That was a big surprise for NBA fans, especially those who wanted to see Mitchell against Ja Morant. Moreover, the player was also shocked to learn that he wasn’t playing last night and he was reportedly ‘incensed’ with the team’s controversial decision.
Sidelined since April 16, Mitchell was hoping to make his longed-for return to action yesterday, but the Jazz ruined his plans. According to Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon of ESPN, this didn’t sit well with the player.
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was incensed at the late decision to scratch him from Sunday’s playoff opener, and it deepened tensions with the team regarding his recovery from a right ankle sprain, sources told ESPN.
Mitchell has been out since April 16, longer than was initially expected. After he progressed slowly in the early stages of recovery, Mitchell began to work with his personal training staff on the rehabilitation, sources said.
The next game for the Jazz is on Wednesday and they hope to have Mitchell back on the lineup to try to tie the series. The Grizzlies surprised the 1st seed in the West and beat them 112-109.
“Sorry y’all… I wish I could say more…. I’ll be out there soon!” Mitchell tweeted after the game.
Sorry y’all… I wish I could say more…. I’ll be out there soon !❤️🙏🏾
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 24, 2021
This situation apparently became uncomfortable in the locker room and not even Rudy Gobert wanted to talk about it.
“I try to stay out of all of this, because it’s just going to give me a headache,” Gobert said. “Hopefully, he’s good for next game. That’s all I’m worried about.”
This situation doesn’t help the Jazz. They are ready to make some noise in the West, but things will get a lot harder without their biggest figure on the floor. They already succumbed to the Grizzlies in Game 1; if that happens again, the picture will look very complex for Quin Snyder and co.
