Jazz vs. Mavericks Sport 4 takeaways: Rudy Gobert’s late dunk lifts Utah to very large win, ties collection at 2-2

The Utah Jazz bounced again from two straight defeats to take down the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday in Sport 4 of their first-round collection, 100-99. Large man Rudy Gobert performed hero on the offensive finish for as soon as with an enormous dunk to place the Jazz in entrance within the closing seconds, and so they secured the win when Spencer Dinwiddie’s potential game-winner on the buzzer got here up brief. 

After getting torched again and again by easy drives to the basket in Sport 3, the Jazz have been decided to not let that occur once more. They got here out with a a lot greater stage of effort on the defensive finish, and held the Mavericks to only 42.9 p.c capturing. Save for a scorching capturing stretch of the third quarter, the Mavericks struggled to get right into a rhythm offensively. That was regardless of the return of Luka Doncic, who went for 30 factors and 10 rebounds in his first motion within the collection. 

Jordan Clarkson led the way in which for the Jazz with 25 factors off the bench in his greatest efficiency of the collection. Donovan Mitchell had a tough capturing night time at 7-of-21 from the sphere, however transformed an enormous and-one within the remaining minute and completed with 23 factors. Gobert, in the meantime, went for 17 factors and 15 rebounds, as he brought about havoc on the offensive glass and received to the road for 18 free throw makes an attempt. 

The collection is now all tied at 2-2 and can head again to Dallas for a pivotal Sport 5 on Monday night time. 

Listed below are three key takeaways from the sport:

1. Gobert performs hero

The playoffs haven’t been a enjoyable time for Rudy Gobert over the previous few years, as he is typically taken a significant share of the blame for Utah’s collapses. That is maybe a bit unfair, however the way in which groups scheme in opposition to him at occasions is straightforward for everybody to see and poke enjoyable at. 

He made certain there can be no slander on Saturday. With the Jazz trailing by one within the closing seconds, he got here down and set a display screen for Donovan Mitchell, then rolled the rim unchecked. Mitchell discovered him — a uncommon prevalence this season — and Gobert threw down the large alley-oop that turned out to be the game-winner. 

That was clearly probably the most notable second, however Gobert was terrific all through the sport. He completed with 17 factors and 15 rebounds, and although he missed quite a lot of free throws alongside the way in which, he earned these journeys to the road by inflicting havoc on the offensive glass. He grabbed 10 offensive boards, greater than your complete Mavericks group, and performed a key position within the Jazz successful the second-chance factors battle 22-12. On an evening the place they shot simply 40.5 p.c from the sphere, Gobert stored them within the recreation along with his work on the glass. 

2. Jazz enhance on the defensive finish

The Jazz misplaced Sport 3 as a result of they weren’t adequate on the defensive finish. It was merely embarrassing how simple it was for Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie to ghost previous their perimeter defenders to get into the lane for straightforward baskets or kick-outs. Everybody knew they needed to be higher in Sport 4 in the event that they needed to win.

To their credit score, they have been. It wasn’t all the time good, however the effort was there, and that is all you may ask. Nothing summed it up higher than this possession late within the third quarter. Simply have a look at the a number of rotations and the way they by no means give up on the play. Clarkson, particularly, deserves numerous credit score right here for getting up and sprinting all the way in which throughout the court docket to shut out to Dinwiddie. 

It is price noting that the above possession got here after the Mavericks shot the lights out within the third quarter and retook the lead. The Jazz might have simply packed it in at that time, however they stored preventing. Certain, that is sort of a primary expectation within the playoffs, however when a group hasn’t responded effectively to adversity in current weeks it is a constructive signal. 

All advised, the Jazz held the Mavericks to 42.9 p.c capturing, which was their least environment friendly outing since Sport 1. Utah goes to wish to take care of that effort in Sport 5 in the event that they wish to take the collection lead. 

3. Doncic exhibits out in return

One of many largest storylines, not simply on this collection however in your complete playoffs, was Luka Doncic’s calf pressure. The All-Star guard received harm within the remaining recreation of the common season and was not in a position to play within the first three video games of the collection. It was only a matter of time till he returned, although, and he did so on Saturday in Sport 4.

He received concerned instantly, throwing a lob to Dwight Powell for the primary basket of the sport, earlier than scoring one among his personal a short while later. All advised, he completed with 30 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists on 11-of-21 from the sphere in 34 minutes — greater than he could have been anticipated to play given the circumstances. He nearly had the most important shot of the night time as effectively: a step-back 3 over Gobert with 39.6 seconds remaining to place the Mavericks up by 4. 

Total it was a formidable efficiency, particularly contemplating he hadn’t suited up in two weeks, and the Mavericks are glad to have him again. On the similar time, his presence created some fascinating dynamics. To some extent, the Jazz’s perimeter defenders appeared a bit extra snug along with his gradual, probing model than Brunson and Dinwiddie’s fast drives in a five-out system. As well as, the Jazz have been in a position to goal him at occasions on the defensive finish, the place he wasn’t shifting effectively. 

Once more, the Mavericks are clearly higher off with Doncic again on the court docket. It was nonetheless fascinating, although, how his return modified how each groups performed.