The Utah Jazz grabbed a critical win in Game 3 to pull ahead 2-1 in their first-round playoff matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It featured an impressive outing from veteran point guard Ricky Rubio, putting together his first triple-double in the playoffs. This has also made him the first player in team history since Hall of Famer John Stockton to notch this feat in the postseason, according to the Utah Jazz PR.
https://twitter.com/UtahJazzPR/status/987909185026252801
Through the first three games of the series, Ricky Rubio has been a major offensive factor averaging 20.3 points, 8.0 assists, and 8.3 rebounds. This includes notching double figures in every game with at least five assists and seven rebounds in each contest.
Rubio took that up a notch in Game 3 with the series shifting to the Vivint Smart Home Arena by putting together an all-around performance that had a huge impact on how the game unfolded. His production helped keep erase a double-digit first-half deficit while pushing his team to a comfortable lead through much of the second half.
In his first career trip to the playoffs, Rubio has made the most of it by being a huge asset on the floor, having his hand in more than 100 points in each contest. Although he hasn't had the reputation of being the most formidable offensive talent, he has shown the ability to step up in different spots.
With Rubio picking up the offensive slack, it has helped alleviate some of the offensive pressure from rookie guard Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 25.7 points along with 9.0 rebounds through the first three games of the series. It has helped make the Jazz a more formidable offensive team that adds to their already strong play defensively as one of the top teams in the league in that regard. This now shifts towards an opportunity for Utah to grab a commanding 3-1 series lead on Monday night.
Follow Us
Subscribe