Utah Jazz eliminate Oklahoma City Thunder behind Donovan Mitchell's incredible Game 6

The Thunder’s season wasn’t supposed to end like this


After predicting the series wouldn't be back in Oklahoma City for Game 7, Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell made good on his word.

Mitchell put on an inspiring performance in Game 6, highlighted by his incredible 22-point third quarter, to lead the Jazz to a 96-91 series-clinching win. Mitchell finished with 38 points.

Down 94-91, Paul George got Jazz center Rudy Gobert to bite on a pumpfake from beyond the three-point line, leaned into him and fired, but there was no call. The Jazz burned significant clock before the Thunder were able to foul.

Russell Westbrook, who had 20 points in that unbelievable back-and-forth third quarter, finished with 46 points on 18-of-43 shots. George and Carmelo Anthony combined for 12 points on 5-of-23 shooting.

Anthony finished the series averaging less than 12 points per game on 37% shooting. George, who will be a free agent this summer, averaged 24.7 points on 40% shooting, but his Game 6 dud will leave a sour taste heading into the summer.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s season came crashing down on Saturday with an 96-91 Game 6 loss and elimination at the hands of the Utah Jazz. The loss — to a team with visibly less star power — was a disappointing first-round exit few saw coming at the beginning of the year.

OKC’s early exit spelled the end of a season that had high expectations from the get-go.

That’s because this Thunder team was supposed to go places
After Russell Westbrook showed he was a one-man wrecking ball last season, shattering some of the longest-standing records in NBA history, the Thunder doubled down on their league MVP. The narrative all season long was he needed help. OKC found a way to get him some.

By now you know this story back-and-forth, so let’s go with the abridged version: OKC pulled off two trades that landed Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. With Westbrook leading the charge and two gifted scorers flanking, the trio of all-stars was supposed to usher the Thunder into a glorious golden era that followed Kevin Durant.

OKC showed flashes of a team that could do special things. After all, even with George and Anthony, Westbrook still managed to average a triple-double on the season. And even after Andre Roberson’s season-ending Achilles injury blasted the Thunder defense in ways they couldn’t have imagined, they still somehow scrapped their way into the No. 4 seed in the wild Western Conference playoff picture.

And then OKC was exposed
The Thunder never looked like the better team against the Jazz. A team with three all-stars had little-to-no cohesion on the court. Even when they came back from down 25 to win Game 5, there was little solace to be taken. They had fallen behind 25 points in the first place. Utah’s defense — specifically, Rudy Gobert — posed problems all over for OKC. There were no well-rounded attacks; if Russ or George didn’t go off, the Thunder lost.

Anthony was almost invisible at times. Billy Donovan opted to go with Jerami Grant early and often, much to Melo’s frustration, but he was a better fit on the court. After all, it was Grant who was on the floor in the final, last-ditch moments of Game 6 for the Thunder, not the All-Star from New York.

Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell danced all over Oklahoma City. Somehow, a rookie cameoed — at times — as the best player on the floor. The Thunder had no answer for the electrifying Jazz guard. Now, they have questions going forward.

The Thunder’s first-round exit was the most disappointing of them all, even more so than the Trail Blazers being swept as the No. 3 seed. There’s no telling if this group can stays together going forward. The way this season has gone for OKC, anything can happen.


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