Utah Jazz Get Update on All-Star Forward After He Limped Off Court

In a double-dose of bad news for the Utah Jazz, they not only suffered a brutal 102-77 loss in the pivotal Game 5 of their series with the Dallas Mavericks Monday night, they also, at least, temporarily, lost All-Star Donovan Mitchell. Spida left the court in the 4th quarter clutching at his hamstring. 

Mitchell had an MRI in Salt Lake City on Tuesday and seemingly escaped the worst, as he's dealing not with a hamstring strain, but bruising in both of his quads. 

ESPN Sources: The MRI on the left hamstring of Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was negative today, but Mitchell is dealing with bruising in both of his quads. There remains optimism for his availability vs. Dallas in Game 6 on Thursday. The Mavericks lead the series, 3-2.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2022

Adrian Wojnarowski explains that there's "optimism" that Mitchell could be available for Game 6. 

Perhaps the quad issue was bothering him all night, as his performance was abysmal for his standards, tying an all-time Jazz playoff record for futility with a minus-38. 

Donovan Mitchell's plus-minus of -38 Monday night is tied for the worst by any Jazz player in a playoff game since plus-minus was first tracked in 1996-97.

Al Jefferson went -38 in Game 2 of the 2012 Western Conf 1st Round vs the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/OAbjDWVW82

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 26, 2022

Along with 9 points and 4-of-15 shooting, Mitchell's minus-38 was tied for the worst ever by a Jazz player in a playoff game since the stat was first tracked 25 years ago. 

If the Jazz bow out in this series, the chatter about Mitchell's future with the team will ramp up to dizzying heights this offseason. The New York Knicks have been rumored to be hot on his trail.  

Anyone else watching Donovan Mitchell leaving the game thinking this is the last we see of Utah as we know them ? Got that maxed out vibe…

— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) April 26, 2022