The Oklahoma City Thunder keep on talking, but the Utah Jazz just keep winning.
Led by rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell who scored a game-high 33 points, the Jazz cruised to a 113-96 blowout victory over OKC Monday night in Vivint Arena to take a 3-1 series lead of the best-of-seven-series.
With another dominating showing, Mitchell set a Jazz rookie postseason single-game scoring record, passing Karl Malone who had 31 points against the Mavericks in 1986.
With 33 points tonight, Donovan Mitchell has set a Jazz rookie postseason single-game scoring record, passing Karl Malone who tallied 31 points on 4/20/86 at DAL #TakeNote
— Utah Jazz PR (@UtahJazzPR) April 24, 2018
Our hearts ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aWx4Djfp08
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 24, 2018
The game lived up to the hype after Russell Westbrook made comments about “going to shut Rubio down” after Saturday’s loss. Westbrook and the entire Thunder team came out physical, chippy and tried to rattle the Jazz at home.
While the game featured six technical fouls, an ejection and 44 total fouls, the physicality, tricks and mind games from OKC didn’t have much of an impact on the Jazz who took the lead near the end of the second quarter and never looked back.
The turning point came with just under two minutes left in the second quarter as Joe Ingles knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Jazz a 58-52 halftime lead. Utah never trailed again.
?| Game highlights ✨
113 points | 21 assists | 49 rebounds | 3-1 series lead | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/KIGGxsIuTB
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 24, 2018
Joe Ingles scored 20 points, and hit a game-high five 3-pointers and Rudy Gobert chipped in with a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ricky Rubio, who had a triple-double on Saturday, had another great outing as he scored 13 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds.
Paul Goerge led the Thunder with 32 points and Westbrook chipped in with a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds, but only three assists and five turnovers.
Here’s how Jazz fans reacted on Twitter:
The mood in playoff SLC ?? pic.twitter.com/5HjKoBtRjr
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 24, 2018
.@spidadmitchell is hanging with some well-known company. Impressive statement for #RookieOfTheYear. You’d better #TakeNote @NBA. Looks like the @utahjazz point guard is for real. #utahjazz #NBAPlayoffs2018 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/9PSlPYUVVr
— Todd Kunz (@ToddKunzKIDK) April 24, 2018
This poster. ??? pic.twitter.com/EJWsR7xIj0
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 24, 2018
Mitt Romney trash-talking Westbrook! #UtahJazz pic.twitter.com/OV0Bto5D0C
— Mukurima X. Muriuki (@Mukurima) April 24, 2018
This game has everything, including Mitt Romney taunting Westbrook lol pic.twitter.com/dGmu2v9RFy
— Ricky Wobfio (@World_Wide_Wob) April 24, 2018
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Blast from the good ol’ past. #UtahJazz pic.twitter.com/qNDEWk4cou
— morgan black. (@RamsayMorgan) April 24, 2018
When I saw Ricky Rubio meditating before the game I knew it was ON! #TakeNote #NBAPlayoffs #UtahJazz
— Theoriii (@eye_am_theoriii) April 24, 2018
“Rubio can’t score on me if I get 6 fouls” – Russel Westbrook #OKCatUTA #TakeNote #UtahJazz pic.twitter.com/TfMag42dWW
— Digglesworth (@digglesworth11) April 24, 2018
At the airport waiting for my flight back to Phoenix after flying in for last night's game. Seeing a lot of Jazz fans wearing Jazz shirts. All of them giving me the not of approval as they see me wearing mine. Jazz nation is strong! #utahjazz #TakeNote
— Burrell Richards (@burreally) April 22, 2018
When you on Maui Island in Hawaii, but you can’t miss your @utahjazz beat up OKC! #NBA #UtahJazz pic.twitter.com/23Y23javIm
— Syl Jones (@SafariSly) April 24, 2018
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NBA Playoffs: Ricky Rubio’s Triple-Double Powers Utah past OKC, Jazz Take 2-1 Series Lead
