Video replay showed that Gobert apparently banged knees with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute within the first 20 seconds of the series. In 81 games, he averaged 14.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and added a league-leading 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 66% from the field.
"I just wanted to get as close as I could to the basket, and it was a good thing it went down", Johnson said. He tried to lift himself back to his feet, but couldn't, and eventually had to be helped off the court and to the locker room. "And we've got to cut down on our turnovers [15]".
The Clippers forgot about Johnson, the most prolific game-winning scorer in the last decade.
He's made an NBA-best eight game-winning buzzer-beaters in the past 10 years. Games 3 and 4 will be at Utah on Friday and April 23.
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He set the single-season franchise record for receptions with 115 in 2008 and receiving yards with 1,598 in 2012. Johnson spent the last two seasons of his career making trips to other AFC South teams in the Colts and Titans.
A Saturday MRI revealed no structural damage, but it is unclear when or if he will be able to return for the series. He is arguably Utah's best player this season, and certainly one of their most important in the first-round matchup with the Clippers.
"It sucks that we lost", Paul said, "and to tell you the truth, we've sucked pretty bad here at home here in the playoffs anyway, know what I mean?"
Utah outscored the Clippers 16-10 to open the third before Crawford's jumper put Los Angeles ahead 70-68.
Gobert was the one constant this season for a team plagued by injuries to all its other starters. While he may miss at least another game or two, it sounds as if there's a possibility he could return before the end of the series.
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