Rudy Gobert sets Jazz record in win over Clippers in Game 2
Rudy Gobert was a big reason why the Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 117-111 in Game 2 of their second-round series on Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead.
The 2020-21 Defensive Player of the Year set a new postseason career-high of 20 rebounds and became the first Jazz player since Carlos Boozer in 2010 to have that many boards in a playoff game.
Gobert's 19 defensive rebounds are also the most by any Jazz player in the last 35 seasons.
To put it all in perspective, the native of France finished with more boards than Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, Ivica Zubac, Nicolas Batum, DeMarcus Cousins and Reggie Jackson combined.
While the 28-year-old certainly dominated in the paint, he also contributed 13 points, two steals and three blocks in the win.
Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley Jr. and Jordan Clarkson have been praised for their play this postseason, but Gobert is just as responsible for Utah's success as those three.
The Jazz drafted Gobert 27th overall in 2013, and he has averaged at least 10 rebounds per game since the 2015-16 campaign. He has also averaged at least 13 points per game since the 2016-17 season.
If the Jazz have hopes of moving on to the next round, Gobert will need to continue playing well around the glass. The Clippers are no stranger to adversity, and they'll put up a fight in Games 3 and 4 to try to even the series.
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