A season ago, as the first round of the NBA playoffs came to an end, Donovan Mitchell lay on the floor of an empty arena, exhausted and devastated having let a 3-1 series lead slip away.
It was a feeling Mitchell didn’t want to experience again, and a moment that has motivated him all season long.
On Wednesday night, the All-Star guard and his teammates walked off the floor to a standing ovation, a first-round win secured, the first step toward their ultimate goal completed.
“Having last year be so fresh, definitely helped,” Mitchell said after the Jazz had eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies, cruising to a 126-110 Game 5 win at Vivint Arena.