The Utah Jazz won Game 1 thanks in large part to Rudy Gobert. The Los Angeles Clippers were a three-point shot away from tying things up, before Gobert flexed his Defensive Player of the Year chops.

Check out the Jazz center denying the Clippers extra time:

The Clippers tried to use the common playoff strategy against Gobert, utilizing five out lineups with no true center so that Gobert would be forced to defend on the perimeter instead of manning the paint in the middle. But given how Rudy found a way to get a stop out at the three-point line to end the game, he can more than hold his own. Gobert had a strong message for LAC's small ball tactics, via The Salt Lake City Tribune's Eric Walden.

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Jordan Clarkson and Danny Ainge on one side, a bunch of Utah Jazz fans on the other side with angry emojis over their faces

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Mavericks' Kyrie Irving, Mavericks' Jason Kidd both in front. Mavericks and Clippers logos in background.

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Clippers Kawhi Leonard with speech bubble "I'm back" with Mavericks Luka Doncic smaller in background.

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Gobert and fellow Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell provided a fire and ice performance to take Game 1. Mitchell erupted for 45 points to bring the pain on offense, while Gobert kept a low profile from a scoring standpoint. The big man finished with just 10 points, making only two field goals out of six attempts.

But Rudy Gobert did what he always does, forcing opposing offensive players to think twice before attacking inside. The last play of the game proved they aren't safe from Gobert's reach even outside the paint. The Utah Jazz need that same energy from both their stars as they look to take a 2-0 lead in Game 2.