ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Jerami Grant #9 of the Detroit Pistons drives against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)DETROIT – Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 28 points in a decisive first quarter, and the Utah Jazz held on for a 96-86 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Utah scored the game's first nine points and never trailed. The Jazz went on a 17-0 run later in the first, pushing their lead to 20 before the quarter was over. Jerami Grant scored 28 points for the Pistons, who cut the deficit to six late in the third quarter.

He helped the Jazz break open the game in the third quarter and increase the lead to 31 in the fourth. His performance was on the heels of scoring a Jazz playoff-record 57 points in a 135-125 overtime loss in Game 1. Jordan Clarkson scored a personal playoff-best 26 points on a day the Jazz shot 51.7% from the floor. We need the same energy and intensity.Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. had 28 points, and Nikola Jokic added 28 points and 11 rebounds. All of our games are usually close games and this one got away from us, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points off the bench to lead the Jazz, while Tony Bradley had 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 11 rebounds. ... Joe Ingles played 16 minutes in the first half and finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field. He did not play in the second half as the Jazz just wanted to help him condition. Spurs: Will play the Jazz again on Aug. 13UP NEXTJazz: Play the Nuggets on Saturday. Spurs: Play the Pelicans on Sunday.