Jazz hoping Donovan Mitchell is back for rematch with Oklahoma City

It may seem like just yesterday that the Utah Jazz last played the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nope. It was Wednesday.

That 107-79 demolishing was worth forgetting. The Jazz (15-18) discussed the game but didn’t watch film. But at least two things are expected to be very different when the teams tip off for the second time in four days Saturday evening. Utah will host this time and they’re expecting star rookie Donovan Mitchell to be back on the floor.

Mitchell (17.7 ppg) quickly has become one of Utah’s most important players on offense, giving a dynamic, attacking element to the starting backcourt. But he’s missed the last two games with a toe contusion on his right foot suffered in Cleveland.

His return gives added firepower to a team that completely was overwhelmed against Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and company earlier this week.

“We’ve played these guys three times already this year: It’s a little bit like a playoff series where both teams know who the other team is,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “Hopefully we’ve got Donovan back, and we’ll be able to play with Donovan and Rodney [Hood], which will give us a little more offense.”

Hood is coming off a 29-point performance in a win over the San Antonio Spurs that helped the team feel a little over the hump after a six-game road trip against some of the best teams in the NBA.

Oklahoma City (17-15) has been gelling since a rugged start to the year, winning nine of its last 12 games. Utah has one win over the Thunder in the previous meeting at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

“To come home and beat the Spurs felt good,” Jonas Jerebko said. “But we owe these OKC guys something. They kinda beat our a— in OKC. They’re coming off a back-to-back. We gotta come out with a lot of energy.”