The top-seeded Jazz dropped their playoff opener at home, and that wasn’t even the biggest news to come out of Sunday night.
Their star guard, Donovan Mitchell, was surprisingly held out of the game, a 112-109 loss to the Grizzlies, and he was “incensed” about it, ESPN reported.
According to the team on Monday, Mitchell will play in Game 2 on Wednesday.
He was expected to be ready on for Game 1 after missing the end of the regular season with a right ankle sprain. On Sunday morning, he said he was ready to go, and wasn’t even listed on the team’s injury report. He had been out since April 16. According to ESPN, Mitchell started working with his own training staff after his progress was slow.
“Sorry y’all… I wish I could say more…. I’ll be out there soon!” Mitchell tweeted.
Mitchell practiced for three days leading up to the game and took part in shootaround on Sunday. But the training staff suggested he be held out. Following the loss, multiple Jazz players said they were surprised by Mitchell not being available.
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell warms up before Game 1 against the Grizzlies on May 23, 2021. AP“I try to stay out of all of this, because it’s just going to give me a headache,” center Rudy Gobert said. “Hopefully, he’s good for next game. That’s all I’m worried about.”
