SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will not play in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Clippers after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a bone contusion in the series opener.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman went down 17 seconds into Game 1 when he knocked knees with Luc Mbah a Moute on the first possession of the game, which the Jazz won 97-95. The series is tied 1-1.
Gobert is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate after he led the league in blocks and defensive win shares. He also ranked third in defensive rating.
Gobert became the first player in Jazz history to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in a single season.
Derrick Favors slides over from power forward to center with Gobert out. The Jazz were outscored 60-38 in the paint in Game 2.