Gobert, Mitchell Carry Jazz To Road Win Over Suns
Mar 13, 2019, 10:31 PM | Updated: 10:46 pm
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is congratulated by Donovan Mitchell #45 after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 13, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Utah Jazz snapped a two-game skid with a strong performance on the road as they beat the Phoenix Suns 114-97.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz in scoring with 26 points, but Rudy Gobert had an outstanding game with 18 points and 20 rebounds. Derrick Favors chipped in 18 points and Joe Ingles scored all of his 15 points in the second half.
Devin Booker had 27 points to lead the Suns. Kelly Oubre poured in 18 points and Tyler Johnson contributed 15 points.
Gobert Powers Jazz To First Half Lead
Derrick Favors had a good start to the game with three assists to go with his 5 points. The Jazz had a 12-8 lead midway through the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, Booker fired up a half-court shot when Kyle Korver fouled him. Booker made all three to give the Suns a 27-25 lead.
Utah assisted on all nine made field goals in the opening period. Gobert finished the first 12 minutes with 9 points, Booker had 10 points for the Suns.
The Jazz played great defense and continued to move the ball offensively late in the first half that sparked a 15-4 run to take a 53-43 lead at halftime.
The ball movement was outstanding in the first half for Utah as they had 18 assists on 20 made field goals.
Gobert had a double-double in the first half with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Jazz Use Defense, Ball Movement To Win
It was a sluggish beginning to the second half as the Suns went on an 8-0 to cut the lead to 4 with 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Suns outscored the Jazz 32-25 in the third quarter to trail by three.
Utah jumped out to an 8 point lead early in the fourth quarter but Phoenix didn’t show any signs of folding.
The Jazz outscored Phoenix 36-22 in the fourth quarter to pick up the win.
Rudy Gobert (18 PTS, 20 REB) patrols the paint to lead the @utahjazz in Phoenix!#TeamIsEverything 114#TimeToRise 97
Donovan Mitchell: 26 PTS, 4 3PM
Derrick Favors: 18 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST
Joe Ingles: 15 PTS, 6 AST pic.twitter.com/Oov0bRYQmo— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2019
Dunk Tracker
Rudy Gobert is on track to beat Dwight Howard’s record for the most dunks in a single season with 269 in the 2007-08 season.
Gobert entered the night with a second-highest mark in the league with 355 dunks and added 6 more slams to put his total at 241.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo entered Wednesday night in first-place with 241 dunks this season. The Bucks did not have a game on Wednesday, which means that Gobert is tied with Antetokounmpo for the most this season.
Up Next
The Jazz snapped their two game losing streak and improved to 38-29. They will have a quick turnaround and will face the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Minnesota is 32-36 this season. Utah is 2-1 this year against the Timberwolves.
