Utah Jazz: Proof of eyes in back of Donovan Mitchell’s head

The passing game of Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is picking up.

On Wednesday night, Donovan Mitchell made countless MVP-level plays throughout the Utah Jazz’s 132-127 overtime win at the Houston Rockets (15-47).

ALSO READ: Donovan Mitchell delivers heroics, early and late

But no play was more impressive than the fifth-year pro’s no-look behind-the-back assist in traffic to Bojan Bogdanovic for a corner three midway through the third quarter:

How in the world did Mitchell manage to spot Bogdanovic? Well, it must be a combination of instincts and trust. He certainly didn’t do it with his eyes — at least not those in the front of his head.

And that wasn’t Mitchell’s only no-looker in Houston. No, check out the sneaky pick-and-roll lob (midway through the following collection of his Wednesday night highlight reel) that he delivered to Hassan Whiteside for an easy dunk in the second quarter:

Talk about buckets and dimes galore. Mitchell came up with plenty of those and more — three steals, two rebounds, and his fair share of hockey assists — in one of his most complete performances of the season.

A season-high from Utah Jazz delivery man Donovan Mitchell

Entering the bout against the Houston Rockets, Donovan Mitchell had one double-double to his name this season. However, that one was of the points-rebounds variety.

With 37 points and ten assists in this game, the 25-year-old posted only the third regular-season points-assists double-double of his career. Plus, it was the first time this season that Mitchell has dished out double-digit dimes.

As a result, he is now averaging a career-high 5.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Mitchell’s 26.1 points per game fall just shy of the career-high 26.4 he tallied last season.

Perhaps the most encouraging observation this last time out was that the frequent passing took nothing away from the three-time All-Star’s frequent desire to score on his own. Yes, in so many ways, it dramatically helps Utah fire on all cylinders whenever Mitchell locks in on his underrated passing game, seemingly doing his best John Stockton impressions on the floor.

If he’s to win an MVP someday, top-shelf assist numbers won’t hurt.

Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz (39-22), who remain No. 4 in the Western Conference standings with 21 games left on their slate, return to action at 6 p.m. MT Friday in a road contest against the slightly surging New Orleans Pelicans (26-36). It’ll be the team’s third straight game away from home on their five-game road trip.

Stay tuned to The J-Notes for more Utah Jazz news and views.