Utah jazz it up, down Pelicans
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert put up a show as Jazz edged past New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 as NBA returned post the Pandemic break.
Orlando, July 31: Donovan Mitchell said his feud with teammate Rudy Gobert was firmly in the rear view mirror after the two Utah Jazz players combined to engineer victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
Mitchell scored 20 points and Gobert chipped in with 14 as the Jazz overturned a 16-point deficit to snatch a 106-104 victory in the opening game of the NBA’s restart.
Encouragingly for Utah, there was little sign of the rift which had left Mitchell and Gobert barely on speaking terms four months ago when Gobert’s positive Covid-19 case triggered the NBA’s shutdown.
French star Gobert had attracted widespread criticism for his conduct in the days before his positive test, which included theatrically touching multiple recording devices and microphones during a press briefing.
Gobert later apologised for what he described as “inexcusable” behaviour, admitting he had not taken the threat of the coronavirus seriously.
Mitchell, who later tested positive for Covid-19 soon after Gobert, later spoke of a need for individuals to “educate themselves” and “behave responsibly.”
STARS TAKE A KNEE DURING ANTHEM
Players and coaches took a knee during the US national anthem as the NBA season restarted at Disney World in Florida on Thursday.
Players from the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans wearing t-shirts bearing the slogan “Black Lives Matter” kneeled in unison just before tip-off as the “Star-Spangled Banner” played.
Large “Black Lives Matter” slogans have been written on each court, while players are allowed to wear jerseys adorned with social justice messages ranging from “I Can’t Breathe” to “Justice Now” and “Education Reform.”