Gobert Emphatically Denies Clippers’ Dunk Attempt With Massive Block
Mar 29, 2022, 9:13 PM | Updated: 9:20 pm
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during game 6 of the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers on June 18, 2021, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Rudy Gobert emphatically denied a slam dunk attempt by Ivica Zubac during Utah’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers hosted the Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, March 29.
With 4:13 remaining in the first half, Los Angeles’ Zubac attempted to dunk on Gobert. However, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year denied Zubac’s attempt with a halting block.
Gobert’s block kept Utah’s lead at 53-40.
"PAS CHEZ MOI!!"
– @rudygobert27 #TakeNote @kslsports pic.twitter.com/fdk5Z18PLm— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) March 30, 2022
At halftime, Gobert and the Jazz owned a 61-48 lead.
During the first two quarters of action, Gobert had five points, seven rebounds, one steal, and two blocks. He posted a plus-14 rating during his 17 minutes on the hardwood.
Rudy is quite 🇫🇷 l'obstacle 🇫🇷#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/nKGFZHyN1h
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 30, 2022
This season, Gobert is averaging 15.3 points, 14.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game.
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Jazz vs. Clippers
While Gobert is returning, the Jazz will still be without Danuel House Jr. and Bojan Bogdanovic against the Clippers who are missing their seventh and eighth games respectively.
The Jazz listed all three players as questionable when they released the injury report on Monday, but downgraded Bogdanovic and House Jr. shortly before tip-off.
Without House Jr. and Bogdanovic in the lineup, the Jazz are just 3-4 in their last seven but have lost four consecutive games.
The Jazz will also be without Hassan Whiteside who is missing his third consecutive game with a sprained foot.
“It’d be nice for us to get Bojan and Hassan [back],” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said of the Jazz’s long injury list. “Hassan has been a big part of what we’ve done, and House — he’s one of our two top perimeter defenders and has been elite at times.”
The matchup with the Clippers is the final stop on a six-game road trip that began with a win over the New York Knicks but quickly unraveled with losses in Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte, and Dallas.
Rudy Gobert is returning tonight for the @utahjazz, but so is Paul George for the @LAClippers.
The latest on the Jazz available players, and where to watch the game here!#TakeNote https://t.co/18mlUkKaxn
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 30, 2022
Veteran Greg Monroe signed a 10-day contract with the Jazz on Monday to help bridge the gap at center until Whiteside returns.
The Clippers will also take a step towards fulls strength as All-Star forward Paul George is set to return to the starting lineup.
George has missed the last 43 games with an elbow injury as the Clippers have slipped to the eighth seed in the West and will have to win a play-in game to qualify for the postseason.
The Clippers owned the fifth-best record in the West prior to George’s injury, but have steadily watched themselves fall in the standings in his absence.
LA has lost five consecutive games and eight of their last 10 outings.
Utah’s game against Los Angeles is broadcast on TNT and The Zone Sports Network.
