Rudy Gobert Throws Down Thunderous Dunks, Swats Big Block During First Half Against Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert threw down two massive dunks and recorded a big-time rejection during the closing minutes of the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets.

Gobert and the Jazz faced the Nuggets in the second game of the first-round series on Wednesday, August 19.

No. 27 for Utah closed out the final minutes of the first half by jamming a pair of dunks and swatting a shot attempt by Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

Gobert’s amazing performance to close the first 24 minutes of action came with 3:06 remaining in the second quarter. The Jazzman ran the floor to get ahead of Denver’s defense following a missed shot by the Nuggets. Utah’s Royce O’Neale found the running big man with a pass. Gobert turned into a guard dribbling down the paint. He collected himself and rose up for a two-hand hammer dunk. Gobert was fouled on the jam and went to the foul line for an and-one.

The three-point play put Utah up 48-42.

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THIS
IS FUN STUFF
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/ 　 づ pic.twitter.com/nQZPj1NBBC

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 19, 2020

A few moments later, Gobert put on a show to end the half.

With less than 30 seconds to go, the reigning two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year produced a massive rejection on a field goal attempt by Nuggets’ All-Star Nikola Jokic.

put it in the Louvre pic.twitter.com/6a0TFQ3b5A

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 19, 2020

The defensive play resulted in a Nuggets rebound as the 24-second shot clock expired.

I'd say this is a strong ending to the first half, no?#TakeNote #MileHighBasketball #UTAvsDEN #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ByOvzgTTro

— Sam Farnsworth (@SFarnsworthKSL) August 19, 2020

Seconds later, Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson pushed up a floater that bounced off the rim. Gobert collected the ball with his right hand and threw down a crashing slam dunk as time expired on the game clock.

Gobert’s buzzer-beating jam gave Utah a 61-48 advantage at the halftime break.

buzzer-beating tip-in dunk to end the half?
buzzer-beating tip-in dunk to end the half! pic.twitter.com/w6q9ieGnj5

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) August 19, 2020

The Jazz center went to the locker room with a first half stat line of 12 points on 4-5 field goals. Gobert added 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 blocks during his first 18 minutes of action.

He recorded a plus-18 rating in the first 24 minutes of the game.

Rudy is a freak. There's maybe three guys in the world who can do what he did over the last 3 minutes of the second half.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 19, 2020