Jazz rout Thunder 113-96 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) goes in for a shot, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) works the ball, as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) defends,, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) brings the ball down as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends , in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz are introduced in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) goes in for a shot, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) works the ball, as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kyle Singler (15)defends,in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) has a few words with referee Bill Kennedy (55) after Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder was called for a technical foul, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) goes for a loose ball along with Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) brings the ball down as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends , in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) works the ball, as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) defends,, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) goes up for a shot as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz are introduced in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) goes up for a shot as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) defends, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder gives instructions to he is players, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder gives instructions to he is players, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder gives instructions to he is players, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder gives instructions to he is players, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Huestis (34) eyes Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) gets tangled up with some Oklahoma City Thunder players resulting in a technical foul and ejection from the game, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) gets tangled up with some Oklahoma City Thunder players resulting in a technical foul and ejection from the game, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) drags Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) out of a shoving match, in NBA action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) gets tangled up with some Oklahoma City Thunder players resulting in a technical foul and ejection from the game, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) drags Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) out of a shoving match, in NBA action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after pulling Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) out of a shoving match, in NBA action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The crowd goes wild as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) leaves the floor as the Jazz take a 3-1 lead in the series, after winning game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The crowd goes wild as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) leaves the floor as the Jazz take a 3-1 lead in the series, after winning game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The crowd goes wild as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) leaves the floor as the Jazz take a 3-1 lead in the series, after winning game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) drags Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) out of a shoving match, in NBA action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after pulling Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) out of a shoving match, in NBA action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder shouts directions to his team, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) gets mixed up with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Jazz huddle together during a review of a play, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Jazz huddle together during a review of a play, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Jazz huddle together during a review of a play, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) reacts after being found by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Corey Brewer (3), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after being fouled, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Oklahoma City Thunder guard Raymond Felton (2) takes the ball to the basket, as Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) defends, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Oklahoma City Thunder guard Raymond Felton (2) takes the ball to the basket, as Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) defends, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) rUtah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrate a huge Jazz lead in the 4th quarter, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) heads down court, after putting the Jazz up by 20 with a 3-point-shot, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) scores over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Huestis (34), in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) heads down court, after putting the Jazz up by 20 with a 3-point-shot, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) reacts as the Jazz take a commanding lead, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after putting the Jazz up by 20 with a 3-point-shot, in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder chats with Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) during a break in the action in game 4, NBA playoff action between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrate Utah's win over Oklahoma City Thunder in game 4, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) and Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrate Utah's win over Oklahoma City Thunder in game 4, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrate Utah's win over Oklahoma City Thunder in game 4, in Salt Lake City, Monday April 23, 2018.
On the first defensive possession of Game 4, Russell Westbrook clapped his hands as he settled into his hips — the sign that he was focused and ready for the game ahead.
For the Jazz, the intensity took slightly longer to arrive.
But after a slow start — missing shots at the rim and open looks at the 3-point line, with play slowed down by near-constant whistles — a buzz began to build. It gained volume in the second quarter when Joe Ingles finally broke a cold streak with three straight 3-pointers in a minute-and-a-half. It started to surge when Donovan Mitchell was gaining steam charging the rim to close the half.
Then, early in the third quarter, the energy crested as Ricky Rubio threw a dart to Rudy Gobert at the rim for an alley-oop jam. Rubio screamed and pumped his fist, leaping into the air — and the sea of 18,306 white-clad fans screamed with him.
It was the back-breaking moment of what might just be the back-breaking game in a contentious first-round series, with the Jazz taking Game 4, 113-96, on Monday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Since Utah lost the opening game of the match-up, the current has been steadily shifting in its direction with three straight wins.
As Mitchell took the floor for a postgame interview, the shouts of the arena became so loud, he backed away from the microphone. Then he said something that made the fans even louder: “One more.”
After the latest victory, one in which Mitchell led the Jazz with 33 points and the defense clamped down after a sluggish first quarter, it doesn’t just seem likely that the Jazz, with a 3-1 series lead, advance.
It seems inevitable.
Such was the crushing dominance with which the Jazz orchestrated the second and third quarters, when they outscored Oklahoma City 66-43. The fourth quarter wasn’t remotely competitive: The Jazz lead hovered near 20 points throughout, and the only question was the final margin — not the result.
But predictably, the Jazz didn’t issue any declarative statements themselves.
“Every game’s been physical,” said Rudy Gobert, delivering a straight-faced cliche. “We just got to watch the tape, see how much better we can get, and get ready to play basketball.”
The most-watched subplot of the night had been set since moments after Game 3 ended, when Rubio helped lead the Jazz to a win with a triple-double. Westbrook, who spent much of the night guarding him, guaranteed when it came to Rubio, he would “shut that s*** off.”
Westbrook was as good as his word early, holding Rubio to 6 points on 1 of 5 shooting in the first half. But Rubio took back something even more valuable: fouls.
Each of Westbrook’s four fouls in the first half came while he was guarding him. Rubio used Westbrook’s aggression against him, exaggerating contact when Westbrook tried to check him, or falling to the court when Westbrook tried to fend him off. After he picked up his third in the second quarter, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he trusted Westbrook to play through it, with the guideline to not pick up any “silly fouls.”
With 1:36 left in the first half, Westbrook picked up an offensive foul against Rubio — his fourth — and was sent to the bench to the delight of the jeering crowd. When the second half began, he was mostly switched off of Rubio, who finished with 13 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
Westbrook had a different tone after Game 4, saying he wanted to “get past” the one-on-one match-up. In his own postgame comments, Rubio said he noticed Westbrook’s added intensity. He didn’t take it personally.
“Of course they’re trying to be more aggressive — the whole team,” Rubio said. “It’s the same thing we did in Game 2. We lost Game 1 and we tried to come out more aggressive and we wanted to play better. We’re going to try to play better in Game 5, and they’ll do the same thing.”
Meanwhile, Jazz players had warned that focusing on just one of them would come with consequences. That omen came to fruition as Mitchell cut through the Thunder defense like tissue paper, laying in baskets with the ease that usually comes to the stars of Oklahoma City. With his Game 4 performance, he became only the third rookie in the last 50 years to score 110 points or more in his first four games — following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan.
Ingles missed his first four shots, then had three straight, fueling an 11-4 run to take a 58-52 lead into the half after the Jazz had trailed for much of the start.
On the other side of the scorer’s table, it was an iffy night for the Thunder’s best. Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony combined for 21-of-57 from the field. George led with 32 points, while Westbrook had 23 points and 14 rebounds. As a team, the Thunder were abysmal from beyond the arc, shooting just 5 for 26 on 3-pointers.
The most imposing the Thunder looked in the game came in altercations throughout the night that required officials to separate players. The crew doled out seven technical fouls total, and Jae Crowder was ejected. Westbrook managed to skirt out the rest of the game with just one foul in the second half, despite numerous tie-ups with Jazzmen — including one sequence where he threw Rubio to the floor.
The series continues Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder called Game 4 a “must-win.” After the Jazz torched them Monday night, Game 5 actually will be.
“It’s the playoffs: It’s gonna be war,” Rubio said. “We know that it’s gonna be another war next game. We just have to be tough, but at the same time mentally ready for that.”