NEW YORK — After missing Sunday’s Jazz win over the Wizards, Donovan Mitchell was back on the practice court on Monday in New York.
The Utah Jazz’s leading scorer was officially listed as probable for Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, which is a great sign for the Jazz considering the task that awaits them.
For 24 games, the Nets were without Caris LeVert after he underwent thumb surgery. He returned to action on Jan. 4 and is averaging 14.3 points in 21 minutes off the bench in the four games since his return.
But, more importantly, for 26 games the Nets were without Kyrie Irving, who was nursing a nagging shoulder injury. He made his triumphant return on Sunday scoring 21 points in just under 20 minutes.
Irving has scored 20 points or more in every contest against the Jazz since Jan. 10, 2017, and the Jazz know that he has the ability to get hot. The problem with Irving is that once he gets into a rhythm, it’s very hard to throw him off his game.
Additionally, in Irving’s absence, Spencer Dinwiddie has been playing at an All-Star level while the Nets were shorthanded and though his scoring numbers dropped in Sunday’s game, he had a game-high eight assists.
The point of all this is to say that there is a deep and talented guard rotation in Brooklyn and the Jazz could use all the help they can get because the Nets’ 18-20 record is truly not the best representation of the team that the Jazz will face on Tuesday.
Of course, this all comes as the Jazz are on the hottest win streak in the NBA, having won nine in a row and 14 of the last 15 games.
The pressure of the mounting streak will only be compounded with the fact that most of the teams the Jazz have beat recently are not what would be considered elite competition. The Nets are technically a sub-.500 team, but the majority of that record has been compiled with a depleted roster.
Wins against tougher competition would not only be a statement to the rest of the league but would give confidence to the Jazz, who will soon face their toughest stretch of the schedule to date.
Between Jan. 25 and Feb. 25, the Jazz will face 11 playoff-bound teams who will test everything the Jazz have put on display over the last month.
Fortunately, Mitchell has just been a little under the weather and no other major injuries have inflicted Jazz players not named Mike Conley, so all things considered the Jazz are in a good spot moving forward.
After Tuesday’s contest, the Jazz will wrap up their three-game road trip the same way they did last week, with a game in New Orleans.
Getting through Irving and the Nets will be one test, but lurking in New Orleans could be another challenge all together.
Zion Williamson, the 2019 No. 1 draft pick, who has not played this season after surgery to repair his right lateral meniscus, has been inching his way back to action, and it is rumored that Thursday could be his NBA debut.
It’s an exciting development for the NBA but adds a new wrinkle to what the Jazz could be up against in the coming days.