Rudy Gobert Throws Down Thunderous Dunks, Swats Big Block During First Half Against Nuggets
Aug 19, 2020, 3:32 PM | Updated: 11:58 pm
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.
| ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄|
THIS
IS FUN STUFF
|___________|
(__/) ||
(•ㅅ•) ||
/ 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
Game 2 between the Jazz and Nuggets is broadcast on TNT, AT&T SportsNet, and 97.5 FM.