Derrick Favors called in sick.
The Utah Jazz's starting center came down with the flu, keeping him out of Monday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, and leaving a big hole for the Jazz's defense to fill.
The biggest guy on the court did his best.
Rudy Gobert played 24 minutes, tying his season high. And while his stats (nine points, seven rebounds, and one block) weren't exactly eye popping, the 7-foot-1 Frenchman showed flashes of his potential in the Jazz's second half rally.
"I was just trying to win," Gobert said after the comeback effort fell just short, 103-101, dropping the Jazz to 5-13 on the year. "It was frustrating in the first half to see the team struggle defensively, and that was great that coach gave me confidence in the second half and everybody stepped up defensively."
Gobert himself was at least part of the problem in the first half.
In the locker room at intermission, Jazz coach Quin Snyder showed him film of a defensive possession during which Gobert failed to contest a shot.
"He just showed us what we can be when we're good," Gobert said afterward.
And Gobert and the Jazz were that in the second half.
With Gobert clogging the paint, a Nuggets team that attacked the basket at will in the first half gave pause at the sight of his 7-foot-9 wingspan. Utah rallied from 22 down to tie the game at 83 on a lob to the second-year center.
Gobert might have earned himself more minutes in the future, but don't expect Snyder to make major changes to his rotation after Monday's performance.
"I'm not ready to have one game define what we're doing," he said. "I've been asked a lot of questions about rotations, things like that. You see what Alec [Burks] did tonight, what Gordon [Hayward] has been doing, what Trey [Burke] is doing. I think for us it's less about tweaking things and making little adjustments as it is about big picture, understanding who we are, building our identity whoever's on the floor. And, tonight, Rudy did a good job doing that."
afalk@sltrib.com
Twitter: @tribjazz
Utah Jazz's Enes Kanter (0) lays the ball up as Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson (3) looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Trevor Booker, left, defends against Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw shoots to his team in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson, left, shoots as Utah Jazz's Trey Burke looks on in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson, left, shoots as Utah Jazz's Trey Burke looks on in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried, left, and Utah Jazz's Trevor Booker, right, battle for position under the boards in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks drives on Nuggets Center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum passes the ball in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood shoots over Nuggets JJ Hickson and Nate Robinson in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker spins past Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks drives past Timofey Mozgov and Kenneth Faried in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks draws a foul as he shoots on Kenneth Faried and Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks drives on Nuggets Center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward drives past Wilson Chandler in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker spins past Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward drives off a fast break in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter shoots on Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and Gordon Hayward speak in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter drives past Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter drives past Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks drives on Nuggets Center Timofey Mozgov in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles drives around Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried (35) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz's Enes Kanter (0) looks on in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's head coach Quin Snyder looks on from the sidelines in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Alec Burks (10) shoots as Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried (35) defends in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder motions to the bench in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward drivespast JJ Hickson in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is stuffed by Nuggets center Darrell Arthur in the first half as the Jazz faced the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Utah Jazz's Alec Burks, left, is fouled by Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. The Nuggets won 103 - 101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Timofey Mozgov (25) breaks up Utah Jazz's Enes Kanter, left, and Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo, right, after his foul against Utah Jazz's Alec Burks in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Afflalo was ejected from the game following his flagrant foul. The Nuggets won 103-101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Alec Burks, left, is fouled by Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. The Nuggets won 103-101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo (10) walks off the court after being ejected from the game in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. The Nuggets won 103-101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson (3) makes a jumper as Utah Jazz's Trey Burke, second from left, defends while Trevor Booker (33) and Gordon Hayward (20) look on in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. The Nuggets won 103-101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Alec Burks, left, defends against Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Salt Lake City. The Nuggets won 103-101. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)