Rudy Gobert Silences Critics After Jazz Beat Mavs 100-99 in Game 4: 'F--- the Talk'
In Game 4 of the Western Conference's first-round playoffs, the Utah Jazz stormed back, defeating the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks, 100-99. With Doncic's return, it took a village for the Jazz to come out on top on Saturday afternoon, but the series is now tied 2-2.
When asked post-game what the Jazz's potential is, center Rudy Gobert, who won the game with a thunderous dunk with 11 seconds to go, dropped an expletive, silencing the doubters who believe Utah is bound to once again squander a good regular season only to wither in the playoffs. Plus, there are those rumors of bad energy between him and Mitchell and the boos from Game 3.
"F--- the talk," Gobert said courtside. "We're just trying to be the best team we can be. We're trying to enjoy the moment and whatever happens, happens."
(Warning: NSFW)
The Mavs jumped out to an early lead in the first half, with Doncic making his presence felt. After missing the first three games in the series, he finished Game 4 with a team-high 30 points, but gone was the dynamic production of Jalen Brunson, who'd averaged 32 points per game entering Saturday's action sans Doncic.
An out-of-sorts Brunson still finished with 23 points (9-of-23 shooting). The Jazz struggled to find an answer for Doncic, meanwhile, but thanks to the smothering defense of Bojan Bogdanovich and a heroic, physical display from Gobert late, the home team narrowly came out on top in the clutch.
After relinquishing a 12-point halftime lead, the Jazz floundered for a time in the second half as star Donovan Mitchell fell into a funk. Mitchell did not score in the second half until deep into the final period.
However, Mitchell made a handful of plays when the chips were down, including a nice three-point play after being hacked in the act and sinking his free throw. It was a sorely-needed answer to Doncic connecting on a 26-foot stepback three-pointer with 39.6 seconds to go the play prior.
Still, the Mavs had a one-point lead after Mitchell's plus-one free throw. Dwight Powell missed a shot and Gobert rebounded, giving the Jazz a shot to take the lead with 18.1 seconds to go. What ensued was exactly the sort of spectacle fans pay good money to see in the playoffs.
As Mitchell drove to the hoop, he floated the alley-oop to Gobert, who slammed the ball home with authority, giving the Jazz a one-point lead they wouldn't relinquish. Mavs' head coach Jason Kidd called timeout but Spencer Dinwiddie's three-point prayer was unanswered by the Basketball Gods.
The Jazz now travel back to Dallas for a Monday night throwdown in Game 5. After Saturday's thrilling finish, Gobert's elation over how his team closed out that game in the clutch — a feat the Jazz have struggled with all season long — was a sight for sore eyes and cause for hope within the Utah faithful that the team can weather this series' gauntlet and advance to Round 2.
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