LOS ANGELES — There was a midcourt handshake between Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell and legendary comedian Eddie Murphy during halftime.
Actor Michael Rapaport also enjoyed the Jazz versus Los Angeles Lakers game from a courtside seat in Staples Center, sporting a pair of Mitchell’s exclusive, limited edition Stance Rookie of the Year socks.
Other stars such as Carl Weathers, best known as “Apollo Creed” from the Rocky series, and Alfonso Ribeiro — widely identified as “Carlton Banks” from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air show — were also in the house.
But even among a who’s who list of celebrities, it was Mitchell and the Jazz who were doing the entertaining Sunday as Utah won their fifth straight game, 112-97, to clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive season after many people counted them out.