Gobert Questionable Ahead Of Massive Mavericks Matchup
Mar 7, 2022, 1:36 PM
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz makes the alley-oop dunk against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on February 10, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz could be without Rudy Gobert in tonight’s matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
The game is one of the biggest of the season for the Jazz who sit just 1.5 games ahead of Dallas for the fourth seed in the Western Conference with 19 games left to play.
The Jazz are 3-1 after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder last night as they prepare to close their five-game road trip in Dallas.
Gobert Questionable Against Mavericks
The team announced that Gobert would be questionable for tonight’s game due to left calf soreness after Sunday’s win over the Thunder.
Gobert played 34 minutes in the 116-103 victory and recorded 12 points and 17 rebounds.
The All-Star center previously missed nine games with a calf strain but has played at least 20 minutes in each of the team’s last seven games.
Jazz Injury Report (as of 3/7):
QUESTIONABLE – Rudy Gobert (left calf soreness)
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 7, 2022
Gobert played a crucial role the last time the Jazz faced the Mavericks as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year repeatedly found himself matched up against Dallas superstar Luka Doncic in the fourth quarter, and came out on top.
The Jazz beat Dallas 114-109 as the Mavericks struggled to find easy baskets with Gobert defending Doncic.
Mavericks Winning Difficult Games
Dallas is 10-2 in their last 12 games and has won four straight since losing to the Jazz in Utah in late February.
However, they haven’t been statistically dominant during the stretch.
The Mavericks haven’t seen a game decided by 10 points or more in their last nine outings, with a February 8 victory over the Detroit Pistons serving as their last true easy win.
Though Dallas is 7-2 in the stretch, the average score differential has been just four points. The Mavericks have outscored their last four opponents by just 21 points, but have come out victorious in each effort.
Maxi Kleber (right ankle soreness) has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game against Utah.
Jalen Brunson (right foot contusion) and Frank Ntilikina (illness, non-Covid) have been downgraded to out.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) March 7, 2022
The Mavericks will also be shorthanded as guard Jalen Brunson has been ruled out with a right foot contusion.
Tonight’s game could have a significant impact on the final standings as the Jazz and Mavericks look likely to face one another in the opening round of the playoffs.
If the two teams remain in the fourth and fifth seed at the end of the regular season, the fourth-seeded team would open the playoffs at home, and host a potential game seven in their own building.
The Jazz have won the first two games in the series this season and would clinch the tiebreaker with a win tonight. The two teams will play again later this month in Dallas.
Broadcast
The Jazz and Mavericks will tip off at 6:30 pm MT and can be heard on The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.
