Cleveland Cavaliers

Jeremy Rincon

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PHOTOS | The East Comes West to Utah

Ryan Kostecka

It’s rare, but Tuesday night might’ve been the best of both worlds for the Utah Jazz.&nbsp;

Not only did they honor former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell in his return to Vivint Arena — and he put on a show — the Jazz were able to overcome their late-game struggles and pick up the 116-114 win in dramatic fashion.

“We’ve talked all year that we win as a team and we lose as a team. … I’m very happy for our guys that we were able to pull out the win,” head coach Will Hardy said. “Tonight was a good reminder of our team to have what it takes to dig in mentally for 48 minutes. I thought our team did a good job of staying in the moment and staying focused on the next thing.”

Here are five things to know following the win:&nbsp;

1.) Don Dominates In ReturnAs far as homecomings go, Mitchell couldn’t have asked for a better individual performance. Showing why he’s making a case to be involved in the MVP discussion, he finished with a game-high 46 points (tying his career high at Vivint Arena), adding six assists, five rebounds, and three assists.&nbsp;

He started off hot with 12 points in the opening quarter and then closed strong with 17 points in the fourth. He scored at all three levels and was particularly frisky on defense when up against Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley.&nbsp;

Mitchell was incredible in his five years with the Jazz, but seeing him take his game to another level while with Cleveland is particularly impressive. While I always hope the absolute best for them, as long as the Jazz continue to come out on top in their head-to-head showdowns.&nbsp;

2.) Clarkson Comes Up ClutchWhile Mitchell may have been sensational in the final 12 minutes, Jordan Clarkson came up clutch for the Jazz when they needed it most.&nbsp;

Beginning with a 7-point possession — yes, SEVEN POINTS in ONE POSSESSION — he went on a personal 9-0 run as the Jazz turned a five-point deficit into a four-point lead in 43 seconds. To say he was incredible in those moments doesn’t even begin to describe how special he was, making NBA history in the process.&nbsp;

Every time the Jazz needed a big bucket, Clarkson was the one who answered. He was dominant, finishing with 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-for-9 from deep.&nbsp;

“JC was massive for us in the second half,” Hardy said. “I think he had a seven-point play, which I told him to do. He’s such a rhythm player that him getting to the free throw line helps settle him a little to see a few go in.”

3.) Markkanen Makes Jazz HistoryLost in the shuffle on Mitchell’s return and Clarkson’s clutch fourth quarter was Lauri Markkanen etching himself into the Utah record books.&nbsp;

Doing something neither Mitchell nor Clarkson had ever done before, Markkanen’s corner three-pointer in the third quarter put him over 1,000 career points for the Jazz. He is now the second-fastest player to achieve the feat, doing so in just 40 games. Adrian Dantley holds the record by reaching that threshold in just 34 games.&nbsp;

Overcoming a slow start by his standards, Markkanen finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds. He was particularly impressive on the defensive end, understanding that his side and length at 7 feet allowed him to bother the Cavs anywhere on the court.&nbsp;

4.) Finish StrongSaying the Jazz have had a rough go of things lately would be an understatement. Following a five-game losing streak in which they lost by a total of 15 points, Utah had a chance to get back to its winning ways but struggled in the clutch in losses to Chicago and Memphis.&nbsp;

So when the Jazz found themselves down by five following a 17-8 Cleveland run, it appeared they were going to suffer another heartbreaker.&nbsp;

But like Hardy had been coaching throughout the past few weeks, Utah continued to play through its struggles and battled. Clarkson’s 9-0 run was part of a larger 13-0 run as the Jazz found success on both ends of the court.&nbsp;

“That’s a really gritty team win for us,” Hardy said. “We’ve talked a lot the last couple of days about our approach and mentality, being able to maintain our focus and mindset through tough moments. I thought we came out in the second half with a great purpose. … Cleveland made their run, but our guys dug in and stayed focused on the little things.”

5.) Fans Show Their Love And SupportAfter a lot of recent talk about what sort of reception Mitchell would receive from Jazz Nation, I think it’s extremely important to acknowledge that those inside Vivint Arena were simply sensational on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Not only did they give Mitchell a standing ovation when he was introduced into Cleveland’s starting lineup, but the fans also had the perfect amount of cheers and boos. While they showed their love and appreciation for Mitchell, they still wanted a Utah victory, so they booed him loudly during his free throw attempts.

But the best interaction between Mitchell and Jazz Nation came in the third quarter, which showed how the fans genuinely feel about their former guard.&nbsp;

Following a missed three by Mitchell, those inside Vivint made sure he knew what happened as chants of “airball” began echoing throughout the arena. But as Mitchell looked up and grinned, acknowledging the heckling with a chuckle, the chants started to die and were replaced with cheering.&nbsp;

It was an incredible moment, one shared by a passionate fanbase and a former star who gave them everything he had every time he stepped on the court.&nbsp;

“The reception was phenomenal,” Mitchell said postgame. “I am appreciative of it from everybody, the tribute was great. It felt like it was just a typical Jazz night. … Back and forth, screaming, yelling, it was awesome.”

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"A Typical Jazz Night" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Cleveland

What started as an emotional night with a tribute to former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell ended with a sensational performance by his former teammate, Jordan Clarkson.&nbsp;

With 15 points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, Clarkson helped will the Jazz to a much-needed victory as they closed out the Cavaliers in spectacular fashion to win 116-114 on Tuesday night.

“That’s a really gritty team win for us,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “We’ve talked a lot the last couple of days about our approach and mentality, being able to maintain our focus and mindset through tough moments. I thought we came out in the second half with a great purpose. … Cleveland made their run but our guys dug in and stayed focused on the little things.”

Known for catching lightning in a bottle, The Flamethrower did just that against the league’s top defense.&nbsp;

With Utah trailing by five with just under two minutes remaining, Clarkson had the extremely rare seven-point possession. After hitting a three and being fouled, Cleveland was whistled for a flagrant one. Not only did Clarkson hit the free throw, but the Jazz also kept the ball — and he was fouled again on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three.&nbsp;

In a span of 13 seconds, Utah went from being down five to up two. Another Clarkson bucket and free throws by Lauri Markkanen and Malik Beasley helped seal the victory.

“We’ve talked all year that we win as a team and we lose as a team. … I’m just very very proud that our guys were able to dig in tonight,” Hardy said. “Very happy for our guys that we were able to pull out the win.”

Before the game, Clarkson was preaching that it was all love between him and Mitchell and that there was no extra motivation going against his former teammate.&nbsp;

While that may have been true, Clarkson didn’t play like it.&nbsp;

Every time the Jazz needed a big bucket, Clarkson was the one who answered with a sensational fourth quarter when he scored nine straight points over 50 seconds. He was dominant all around, finishing with 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-for-9 from deep.&nbsp;

Interestingly enough, Markkanen’s former team theoretically gives him the most challenging matchup on offense. Able to throw multiple bodies at him who all have size, length, and strength, it will always be a battle when The Finnisher plays Cleveland.&nbsp;

He was up to the challenge on Tuesday night.

As expected, Jazz Nation showed a crazy amount of love when Mitchell was announced pregame — giving the former Utah guard a standing ovation.&nbsp;

Playing off that energy, Mitchell was sensational to start the game — but the Jazz were up to the task as Utah jumped out to a quick 11-7 lead following a Clarkson three. Cleveland responded with a 15-5 run as Mitchell knocked down two threes.&nbsp;

But behind seven points from Rudy Gay, the Jazz closed the quarter on a 15-2 run — punctuated by a Gay dunk to beat the buzzer.&nbsp;

A bucket by Nickeil Alexander-Walker gave the Jazz an eight-point advantage at the eight-minute mark, but that’s when the Cavs responded. A 12-2 run by Cleveland gave them the lead before Mike Conley’s three calmed things down.&nbsp;

The teams would exchange buckets the rest of the way as a Clarkson three and Mitchell jumper tied the game at 55 at the break.&nbsp;

Utah came out firing to start the third as Markkanen and Malik Beasley scored five points each to give the Jazz a one-point lead.

Then it became the Clarkson show for the next couple of minutes. He scored eight straight points as part of a larger 12-0 run as the Jazz jumped out to a 76-63 lead with five to play.

Cleveland fought back as a Garland three made it a seven-point game and silenced the Vivint crowd — only for a second, though. Clarkson found Markkanen on the ensuing possession for a corner three to reignite the crowd again.&nbsp;

However, the Cavs weren’t done as they closed the quarter on a 10-4 run.

The Jazz led 88-84 heading to the fourth.

The tough whistle for the Jazz continued as the Cavaliers were able to cut the deficit to two, forcing a Hardy timeout less than two minutes in.&nbsp;

Although Utah did everything it could to hold off the Cavaliers, they still couldn’t get a foul call or a bucket to drop — and Cleveland took advantage. An 11-0 run, aided by 10 points from Mitchell, gave the Cavaliers a 101-94 lead with just over six to play.

The Jazz were able to ride out Cleveland’s hot streak and kept fighting, trailing by five with just under two minutes left — and the drama was just beginning.

Beasley and Mike Conley added 13 points and four rebounds each, while Walker Kessler added six points and 11 rebounds. Alexander-Walker was incredible off the bench, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists.&nbsp;

Mitchell tied his Vivint Arena high with 46 points, adding six assists, five rebounds, and three steals.&nbsp;

The Jazz now have two days off before playing another back-to-back — their league-high 12th of the season — when they face Orlando on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

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"Gritty Team Win" | Clarkson Catches Fire In Fourth, Utah Spoils Mitchell's Return With Win

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Highlights: Jordan Clarkson – 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 3PM

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Highlights: Cavaliers 114 | Jazz 116

In what's sure to be the story of the NBA on Tuesday night, former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell returns to the snow-capped mountains of Salt Lake City when Utah hosts Cleveland at Vivint Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.&nbsp;

"Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. We honor the amazing five seasons Donovan gave the Jazz and the incredible contributions he made to the Utah community," Jazz owner Ryan Smith said. "He will always be part of the Jazz's legacy, even when he is wearing another jersey as our competitor. I look forward to seeing every fan join me in a standing ovation as Donovan returns to Utah for the first time of many over the course of his career."

It's a rarity in the NBA that a trade between two teams ends up being a win-win scenario for both organizations.&nbsp;

However, the Jazz and Cavaliers have proven that it's possible.

In a trade that sent three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji (as well as future first-round picks and future first-round draft swaps), the Jazz and Cavaliers have maintained a vibrant confidence and positive outlook for how it turned out.&nbsp;

While the draft picks and assets moving forward have given Utah a massive boost for the future, the front office is thrilled with the immediate return they've received.&nbsp;

In a few short months since attaining official status as a Jazzman, Markkanen has emerged as a bonafide All-Star and is having a career season with the Jazz.&nbsp;

Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He's one of two players in the league to be averaging 20+ points per game on 50% shooting from the floor (53%), and 40% shooting from three (41.6%) — Steph Curry is the other.&nbsp;

"Lauri's done such a good job of continuing to work on different ways he can impact the game offensively," head coach Will Hardy said last week. "Obviously he's shown the ability to shoot the ball. … But the physicality he's been able to play with, to drive the ball and as a screener, has given him the opportunity to score in a variety of ways."

After undergoing season-ending knee surgery last season with the Cavs, Sexton returned with a vengeance and firmly supplanted himself as a significant part of Utah's future plans. A lightning-quick guard, Utah's best one-on-one player, is third on the team with 14.1 points and 2.9 assists in 24.1 minutes per game.

Lastly, Agbaji has emerged over the past week with back-to-back career games against Houston and Chicago. After putting up 11 points against the Rockets, Agbaji dropped 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting (4-of-4 from deep) against the Bulls.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Mitchell is having a breakout season in The Land and has emerged as a dark horse MVP candidate. Following his 71-point/11-assist outing a few weeks ago, he's averaging 28.8 points on 48.8% from the floor, 40.5% from deep, and 87.4% from the free throw line — all career highs.&nbsp;

When speaking with reporters on Sunday night in Phoenix, Mitchell acknowledged that he loved his time in Utah even if they came up short of their ultimate goal of winning a title.&nbsp;

"We did a lot of great things there. … We did not accomplish our main goal,"&nbsp;Mitchell told reporters. "I don't know what the response is going to be, and I am hopeful there will be cheers. Like I said, I had a lot of positives despite not winning a championship. …That is not easy and only one team does it. At the end of the day, we played well, and we had great groups of coaches."

STATSUtah (20-23, 12-7 home / No. 11 Western Conference)Offense*117.6 Points Per Game (No. 3 in NBA)*116.0 Offensive Rating (No. 3 in NBA)Defense*116.9 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*115.1 Defensive Rating (No. 27 in NBA)Individual*Lauri Markkanen: 24.5 points | 8.3 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 41.6% 3P-shooting*Jordan Clarkson: 20.4 points | 4.5 assists | 3.8 rebounds | 35.6% 3P-shooting*Malik Beasley: 14.0 points | 3.5 rebounds | 36.6% 3P-shooting*Mike Conley: 10.0 points | 7.6 assists | 35.7% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Lauri Markkanen vs. Donovan Mitchell— While they may not go head-to-head much on Tuesday night, all eyes will be on Markkanen and Mitchell — two key players in the September trade. They’re both having career seasons and are on the verge of accomplishing first-time goals; Markkanen as an All-Star and Mitchell for All-NBA. While the reception should be warm for Mitchell in his return, the ovation should be louder for Markkanen if he can lead the Jazz to a victory.

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;7:00 p.m. MTLocation: Vivint Arena |Salt Lake City, UTTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

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"He Will Always Be Part Of The Jazz's Legacy" | Donovan Mitchell Returns As Utah Hosts Cleveland

It’s a rarity in the NBA that a trade between two teams ends up being a win-win scenario for both organizations.&nbsp;

However, the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers have proven that it’s possible.

In a trade that sent three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji, (as well as future first round picks, and future first round draft swaps) the Jazz and Cavaliers have maintained a vibrant confidence and positive outlook for how it turned out.&nbsp;

“Ochai, Lauri and Collin are exciting young players, and we’re thrilled to add them to our roster,” Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik said last September. “We believe that they fit the Jazz culture and hard-nosed, competitive brand of basketball we’ve built here in Utah. They give us versatility and athleticism on both ends of the floor as we grow toward the future. We look forward to our fans getting to know them.”&nbsp;

Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He’s one of two players in the league to be averaging 20+ points per game on 50% shooting from the floor (53%) and 40% shooting from three (41.6%) — Steph Curry is the other.&nbsp;

After undergoing season-ending knee surgery during last season with the Cavs, Sexton has come back with a vengeance and firmly supplanted himself as a significant part of Utah’s future plans. A lightning quick guard who is Utah’s best one-on-one player, he’s third on the team with 14.1 points and 2.9 assists in 24.1 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, since moving to The Land, Mitchell has catapulted the Cavaliers to its current status as one of the best teams in the NBA – fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the league's sixth-best overall record.&nbsp;

The play of everyone involved in the trade and the steps forward they’ve all taken are further proof that both teams can win when making deals with one another.&nbsp;

That's why when Mitchell makes his much-awaited return to Vivint Arena on Tuesday night, he should be showered with cheers and applause by Jazz Nation when his name is introduced in the starting lineup.

“Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. We honor the amazing five seasons Donovan gave the Jazz and the incredible contributions he made to the Utah community,” owner Ryan Smith said. “He will always be part of the Jazz's legacy, even when he is wearing another jersey as our competitor. I look forward to seeing every fan join me in a standing ovation as Donovan returns to Utah for the first time of many over the course of his career.”

Traded to Utah during the 2017 draft night, Mitchell emerged as one of the best players in the history of the organization during his five years with the team. His accolades are inarguable, as he is one of only two players from his draft class to be named an All-Star in three of their first five seasons. (Boston's Jayson Tatum is the other.)

While in Utah, he averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on 44.1% shooting from the floor and 36.1% from three-point territory. During his time with the Jazz, Mitchell collected many career accolades, including a rookie season where he won the 2018 Slam Dunk contest and was named First-Team All-Rookie. He was also named the Western Conference Player of the Month in December 2021.

Quickly climbing up the franchise record books, Mitchell ranks No. 8 in points scored (8,234), No. 4 in points per game (23.9), No. 2 in made three-pointers (958), No. 9 in minutes per game (33.7), No. 8 in assists per game (4.5), No. 9 in steals per game (1.3), and No. 2 in usage percentage (31.4).

For postseason totals, he ranks No. 4 in points (1,073), No. 7 in assists (175), and No. 9 in steals (45). He also owns the Jazz’s all-time single-season three-point record, knocking down 232 during the 2021-22 season.

Throughout his five seasons in Utah, Mitchell played in 345 regular season games (337 starts) and 39 postseason games (all starts). When Mitchell was on the team, the Jazz compiled a 218-127 record (.632 winning percentage), while advancing to the playoffs each season.

“We did a lot of great things there. … We did not accomplish our main goal,” Mitchell told reporters after Cleveland’s game in Phoenix Sunday night. “I don’t know what the response is going to be, and I am hopeful there will be cheers. Like I said, I had a lot of positives despite not winning a championship. …That is not easy and only one team does it. At the end of the day, we played well, and we had great groups of coaches.”

While his on-court success with the Jazz can never be diminished, what Mitchell did in communities across the country and throughout Utah is where his legacy as a Jazzman will last forever. With a heart as big as his superstar status, Mitchell has championed social justice and education, using his platform to speak out against racism and inequity.&nbsp;

More than anything, he backed up his words with generosity.&nbsp;

He pledged $12 million to Greenwich Country Day (his alma mater and the school where his mother taught for over a decade). He gave all the proceeds from sales of his Adidas basketball sneakers D.O.N. Issue #2 x Louisville (up to $200,000) to provide scholarships and academic initiatives for black students at the University of Louisville.

For his community service and philanthropic commitments, Mitchell was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in summer 2020.

While Mitchell was sensational for Utah for reasons on and off the court, it’s rare for a player – especially an All-Star – to stay with a team for their entire career.&nbsp;

Now the Jazz not only have a team battling for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference, but also are armed with more assets moving forward than any other team in the league. The front office has done everything possible to give new head coach Will Hardy the best chance at succeeding in the future.

"It was clear that in order to optimize our opportunity to create a team that could truly contend and establish sustained success, we needed to transition our roster,” said Jazz CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge during the summer. “In trading Rudy (Gobert) and now Donovan, it was a rare opportunity to maximize our ability to get quality talent and picks to best position us moving forward. We have a plan in place to help us assemble the championship team our fans deserve. It will take time to craft our roster. We all understand the work ahead and are committed to our vision."

While Mitchell's departure undoubtedly left a hole in the hearts of Jazz fans everywhere, his legacy has continued to live on. He'll forever be a Jazzman.&nbsp;

45. Spida. Donovan. Thank you. It's been an honor.

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“Once A Jazzman, Always A Jazzman" | Jazz Excited To Welcome Donovan Mitchell Back To Utah

Emotions were definitely running high on Monday night in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse — and not in a bad way.&nbsp;

With the Jazz and Cavaliers meeting for the first time since their monumental trade on Sept. 1, the game featured Donovan Mitchell playing his former team while Lauri Markkanen returned to the town he played for last season.

Despite an impressive showing from Markkanen, Mitchell got the best of his former team as Utah fell 122-99 to Cleveland on Monday night.&nbsp;

"Credit to the Cavs. … They kicked our ass," head coach Will Hardy said. "I thought our team approached the second half the right way. I thought, for the most part, we continued to compete. … We just never seemed to catch any type of rhythm on the offensive end."

"It's different when you're playing against your friends, guys you've been in the locker room with and battled with," Mitchell said postgame. "I've got a lot of respect for everybody in that locker room."

Markkanen found success against his former team, dropping 24 points, six rebounds, and two steals. He was effective from beyond the arc (3-for-6) while also showing off his ability to get to the rim and draw the foul (7-of-10 from the free throw line).&nbsp;

He continues to impress with his ability to move at 7 feet tall, using his long frame to get his shot off wherever he wants. He also showcased his athleticism, grabbing the rebound on one end and finishing at the rim on the other.&nbsp;

While it may have been forgotten by many, Clarkson is also a former Cavalier after suiting up for them for 2.5 seasons from 2017-2019.&nbsp;

After a slow start, he caught fire in the second half and finished with 23 points and two rebounds.&nbsp;

It may have been less than two minutes in, but the Jazz took their lone lead of the game following a Clarkson three-pointer. However, Mitchell was on fire for the Cavs, dropping eight of their first 10 points.&nbsp;

After cutting the deficit to two following another Clarkson bucket, Cleveland broke the game open with a 10-4 run to end the quarter. Utah trailed 29-21 after one.&nbsp;

The second quarter belonged the Cleveland, although Markkanen did everything he could to keep the Jazz in the game. He scored 15 of Utah's 23 points in the quarter, but the defense struggled to contain Cleveland at the point of attack.&nbsp;

Whatever was said by Hardy at the half, it worked early as the Jazz came out firing on both ends of the court. The defense was aggressive and rebounded well, while the offense moved the ball and found success.&nbsp;

Clarkson kickstarted Utah's 8-0 run with a deep three, which was followed by a bucket from Mike Conley and an and-one by Jarred Vanderbilt. However, Cleveland responded with an 8-1 run, and the Jazz never seriously threatened the rest of the way.&nbsp;

Trailing by 19 entering the fourth, Hardy pulled his starters midway through. The takeaway from the final 12 minutes was that Clarkson and Conley found a rhythm on offense, a good sign moving forward for the veteran backcourt.&nbsp;

"The good news is that these games only count as one.," Hardy said. "It's never as bad as it feels. … It's our job to strip away the emotion, try to learn from this game because we play again tomorrow.

Walker Kessler finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in his third start of the season, while Conley added seven points and nine assists.&nbsp;

Utah continues its reunion road trip when they face former Jazzman Bojan Bogdanovic and the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night — tipoff is set for 5 p.m. MT.

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"We Continued To Compete" | Jazz Struggle On Offense, Fall To Cleveland On Monday

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