SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz feared the worst when Rudy Gobert was carried off the court by teammates 17 seconds into the playoffs.
Two weeks later, Gobert is a huge reason the Jazz have taken control of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
A Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Gobert, who is 7-foot-1, has been a force in the middle for the Jazz all season. Since his return to the lineup, Utah has won the rebound battle against Los Angeles and outscored the Clippers in the paint.
"I've just tried to do the same things I've done to try to help the team," Gobert said.