Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell has no plans of returning to OKC for Game 7

Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell let his feelings about the current playoff series be known with a bold declaration to Oklahoma City Thunder fans.

Game 5 of the first-round series between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder started out beautifully. The Jazz took a commanding 15-point lead into halftime, then came out and extended it to 25 about midway through the third quarter. It looked like it would be smooth sailing into the second round for a Utah team that was firing on all cylinders.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

I don’t want to force any Jazz fans to relive it as I’m sure they’re all too aware, but in summary, Russell Westbrook went off, foul trouble hurt Utah’s bigs, the offensive execution faltered and OKC eventually battled all the way back to come out on top by a score of 107-99.

Suddenly, Utah’s strangle-hold on the series had dissipated. Though an advancement to the second round for a moment seemed certain, now one can’t help but wonder if it’s in jeopardy to some degree.

Fortunately, the good news is that the Jazz still have a 3-2 series lead with a chance to close it out once and for all at home in Friday’s Game 6. And although Utah was shell-shocked from the latter half of the third quarter of Game 5 on, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Utah can adapt to the switches the Thunder threw at them defensively. It’s unlikely that Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert will both be in foul trouble once again. The Jazz got out of their offensive rhythm in Game 5, but likely will be more focused in Game 6. Last of all, it’s highly unlikely that Russell Westbrook will be able to splash as many threes and mid-range jump shots to close out Game 5.

And on top of all that, the Jazz seem confident about their chances of closing out in Friday’s bout. Several players have expressed as much since the game’s conclusion, but Donovan Mitchell didn’t waste any time whatsoever making that confidence felt the instant the game had ended.

As Mitchell made his way back to the locker room, he made his feelings quite clear by saying to the jeering OKC fans, “Hey, we’ll see y’all next year!” See for yourself in the video below:

Translation? We’re winning this thing in Game 6. There won’t be a return trip for the Jazz to Oklahoma City until the 2018-19 season.

Those are bold words from Donovan, especially considering how Westbrook and Paul George came alive in the second half and even did a good job of slowing Mitchell down the stretch, but you’ve got to love his moxie.

And I’m sure his teammates such as Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles and the rest of the gang are in agreement. The Jazz certainly blew a golden opportunity to win the series in five games. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to fold or fail to show up for Game 6.

In fact, I predict that it will be the best game of the series. The Thunder have life and will come in believing they can pick up where they left off to close Game 5. Meanwhile, the Jazz will be confident that they can replicate their start to Game 5 as well as their play from the trio of wins.

Next: Utah Jazz: Russell Westbrook killed the close-out (and my story)

And perhaps most excitingly, Mitchell will want to live up to the blunt words he spoke to the crowd in OKC. As such, the stage is set for this game to be an absolute thriller. And though it technically isn’t win-or-die for the Jazz, it sure feels like it, and truly is for the Thunder.

Game 6 is on Friday at 8:30 PM MT at Vivint Smart Home Arena. And it’s bound to be a must-watch event.