Donovan Mitchell dominates as Jazz thrash Lakers
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac (40) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell had 33 points and a career-high nine assists, helping the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Lakers 113-95 on Friday night.
Utah (22-21) made 15 3-pointers in its fourth win in five games. Rudy Gobert had 12 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. Joe Ingles had 14 points and a career-high 12 boards, and Derrick Favors finished with 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
The Jazz also got a solid performance from Royce O’Neale, who went 5 for 12 from 3-point range on his to a season-high 17 points.
Michael Beasley scored 17 points for the Lakers. Brandon Ingram added 15 points and Kyle Kuzma had 11 points and eight rebounds.
Los Angeles (23-20) lost for the sixth time in nine games without LeBron James in the lineup. James is out with a groin injury.
All three Jazz point guards — Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum and Raul Neto — were sidelined with injuries. But Mitchell helped make up for his missing teammates.
Utah broke the game open in the second quarter by holding Los Angeles without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. The Lakers trailed 41-34 after Ivica Zubac scored back-to-back baskets with 7:35 left. They did not get another basket until Javale McGee hit a short jumper with 55.1 seconds left in the half.
Utah took advantage of the drought. The Jazz used an 18-4 run to open a 59-38 lead. Mitchell fueled much of the run with his play on both ends of the court. He drove for a pair of baskets, blocked a layup attempt by Kyle Kuzma, and fed a no-look pass to Ingles in the corner to set up his first 3-pointer of the night.
Los Angeles trimmed Utah’s lead to 76-66 in the third quarter after Beasley made back-to-back baskets and hit a pair of free throws as part of a 10-0 run. The Lakers couldn’t cut it to single digits.
Utah used a 14-5 run, capped by a layup from Gobert, to put it out of reach again and take a 95-73 lead with 7:03 left in the fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Lakers: James did not travel to Utah. … Kuzma went 0 of 8 from the field in the first half and shot just 4 of 18 (.222) from the floor overall. … Ingram scored just three points over the final three quarters.
Jazz: Favors now has 3,986 career rebounds with Utah and passed Greg Ostertag (3,978) for fourth place on the Jazz rebounding list. … Mitchell scored 25-plus points for the fourth consecutive game. … O’Neale’s five 3-pointers equaled the team total for the Lakers.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Jazz: Host the Bulls on Saturday.
