Rudy Gobert Makes Two Impressive Blocks Against Mavericks
Feb 25, 2022, 9:27 PM
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks tries to pass around Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of their game February 25, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert made two impressive blocks that came at important times against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
The first big block by Rudy Gobert came with 4:55 remaining in the game when Reggie Bullock went into the lane to try and get a layup. The ball was at its peak in the air when Gobert used his length to block the shot to keep game tied at 102. Donovan Mitchell drilled a three-pointer shortly after.
🏆🚫🏆🚫🏆#TakeNote | @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/KzjFw7NT2W
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 26, 2022
Then in crunch time, Luka Doncic tried to get a shot over Gobert when the big man rejected it away to fire up the crowd at Vivint Arena. The Jazz picked up a 114-109 win over the Mavericks. Gobert finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.
After winning six of their final seven contests heading into the All-Star break, the Jazz will get two tough tests right out of the gate against the Mavericks on Friday and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Of the Jazz’s previous six wins, only one came against a team poised to open the playoffs with home-court advantage. Their wins over the Denver Nuggets and Brookyln Nets count as playoff opponents, though both teams were significantly shorthanded when they met.
The Jazz had the second-best offense and the third-best defense in the NBA over the final seven games before the All-Star break and will look to build on that success against Dallas.
The Mavericks made one of the more surprising moves at the trade deadline sending former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
Dinwiddie gives superstar Luka Doncic another playmaker in the backcourt while Bertans will allow the Mavericks to space the floor around their talented guard rotation.
The Jazz will travel to Phoenix to face the Suns on Sunday, February 27 at 1:30 p.m. MT, which can be heard on The Zone Sports Network. The game is also televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV and ABC.
