By Ryan Lee, PSO Asst. Director of Sports Operations
Aug 17, 2021



Donovan Mitchell and Luka Dončić are among the best young players in the NBA, and both have become the faces of their respective franchises after just a few years in the league. This day in sports history saw the two stars lead their teams into the opening round of the playoffs in the NBA Bubble, each setting postseason records in the process. However, both of their teams ended up losing despite their star players’ record-breaking performances. 

RELATED: Washington Football Team also made Jason Wright the 1st ever black team President in NFL history on August 17th, 2020.

Donovan Mitchell facts:

 

Luka Dončić facts:

  • Scored the most PTS (42) in a player’s NBA postseason debut ever on August 17, 2020
  • Youngest player to earn multiple All-NBA 1st-Team selections in NBA history
  • Most playoff GP (5) with 40+ PTS before turning 23 in NBA history
  • 1st player with 250+ PTS/50+ REB/50+ AST during a single playoff series in NBA history

DONOVAN MITCHELL & LUKA DONČIĆ SET NBA POSTSEASON RECORDS

Donovan Mitchell was a scoring machine for the Utah Jazz in the first game of their opening-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Despite a 135-125 loss in overtime, the Louisville product torched the Nuggets defense for 57 points, good for the most all-time in any NBA Playoff Game 1 and in Jazz postseason history. Utah ended up winning the next three games to take a 3-1 series lead, only to see Denver come back and win Game 7 to advance to the next round where they beat the Clippers in seven games.

Luka Dončić also put on an offensive clinic that same day, recording 42 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 118-110 loss in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The performance marked the most points ever scored by a player in his postseason debut. Dončić continued to impress throughout the series, but his heroics were not enough as the Clippers won 4-2 to reach the Western Conference Semifinals where they ended up choking away a 3-1 series lead to Denver.

  • Spida is an elite scorer

 

  • Luka got buckets in Game 1

 

  • Crazy play by Clarkson in Game 1

 

 

 

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