Rudy Gobert and Jazz go crazy against the Pacers – BasketUSA

It was an evening that started off perfectly for Jazz with Donovan Mitchell finishing and creating. The All-Star back goes on 3-points and finds his teammates, and Utah takes the best start (20-14 after seven minutes). But the Pacers, in back-to-back, have the response, and it is Torrey Craig and TJ McConnell who change while throwing a 14-2. It’s an attacking game with lots of contact and speed, and Indiana takes the lead (38-35).

It was not until the return of Donovan Mitchell for the Jazz to regain momentum. Rudy Gobert continues his dunks festival, but opposite there is a very tall Malcolm Brogdon. The leader of the Pacers dominates the debates, and Indiana joined the locker room with nearly 10 points ahead (60-51).

The Brogdon festival continues, and the gap is swelling. Quin Snyder does not manage to slow him down, and when Gobert pulls out all the stops to bring the Jazz down to -5 (77-72), it is again and always Brogdon who airs the room (85-75). The Pacers have the game well in hand, and thanks to Chris Duarte, the Pacers even regain an 11-point lead (100-89).

It was then that the incident of the match arose. After being martyred all evening by Gobert, even with a dunk in his face, Turner pushes Gobert upside down. The Frenchman catches him and seems to want to tackle him to the ground. Things got worse, and the referees sent off four players, including Gobert and Mitchell. Indiana took the opportunity to increase the gap to +15, and finally create the feat of the evening by winning 111-100. This is the first home loss for Jazz.

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER

The four expulsions. A few days after the collision between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris, it is the turn of Myles Turner and Rudy Gobert to rub. It hangs on, it ends up on the ground and it ends in a wrestling fight. The Frenchman didn’t put in a hit like Jokic, but his reaction snowballed, and Joe Ingles and Donovan Mitchell swooped in as the situation seemed settled.

The Pacers’ offensive rebounds. Indiana did very badly on so-called “second chance” baskets, including 18 points from 12 offensive rebounds in the first half alone. After drives from Malcolm Brogdon, his failed shots fell back into the hands of Domantas Sabonis or TJ McConnell. Ditto for the 3-points with long rebounds on which Rudy Gobert was dropped by his teammates.

TOPS / FLOPS

✅ Malcolm Brogdon. It is a “clinic” that delivered the leader of the Bucks, in particular in the art of playing the “pick-and-roll”. His complicity with Domantas Sabonis hurt a lot, and even if he was clumsy, he never stopped attacking the defense of Jazz. He is a real leader, and his desire to always relaunch the game has hampered the Jazz, often on the heels in defense.

✅ TJ McConnell. His entry into play triggered a click. He slips everywhere, and several times he has taken rebounds next to Rudy Gobert. He’s a trickster playing on the baseline, and Rick Carlisle had the good idea to get him to play with Brogdon. Their duo ensured victory.

✅ Rudy Gobert. Even if he did not have to react in this way, the Frenchman had made a great match before his exit. He dominated the Sabonis-Turner pair, multiplying the dunks by his sense of placement. It’s a shame his teammates don’t play with him more, but he doesn’t have much to blame himself for this loss.

⛔ Jordan Clarkson. With the exception of a good passage from Eric Paschall at the start of the 4th quarter, the Jazz bench did not have a big influence on the game. It is also when Quin Snyder proceeded to the first changes as the Pacers signed a 14-2 to take control of the game. Best sixth man in the NBA, Jordan Clarkson missed out with his 3 of 14 on shots. His life is too complicated, and when the 3-point address does not follow, it results in a failed game. In general, the Jazz has a 3-point hole: 9 out of 32.

THE FOLLOWING

Utah (8-4): new tough match with the Heat’s reception on Saturday.

Indiana (5-8): Saturday night, the Pacers receive the Sixers in free fall.