Jazz rookie Mitchell scores 38 in Game 6 against Thunder to make history

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell went toe-to-toe with superstar Russell Westbrook, scoring the most points of 38 by a rookie in the playoffs in 31 years on Friday.

The Jazz closed out the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 with a 96-91 victory to reach the NBA Western Conference semifinal.

With the victory, the Jazz beat the Thunder 4-2 overall and will play against the Houston Rockets next round.

Mitchell heated up in the second half, scoring 22 points in the third quarter. He finished with 38 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and five 3-pointers in 40 minutes.

"We worked hard, we stuck with it," Mitchell said after the clincher. "After Game 5, there was some question if we could handle it, but the character of this team is just incredible. We all did what we were supposed to do, and we all came up big."

Mitchell's 38 points are the most by a rookie in a playoff game since Indiana's Chuck Person scored 40 in a 1987 first-round series against Atlanta.

Mitchell's 22 points in the third quarter also set up franchise record for most points in a quarter during a playoff game.

Mitchell has scored 171 points in first six career playoff games, the third most by a rookie in NBA history behind Lew Alcindor (216 in 1970) and Wilt Chamberlain (199 in 1960). Enditem