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SALT LAKE CITY — Over the course of three weeks, Rudy Gobert witnessed his team transform from the sidelines as he sat out with a left calf strain.
The Jazz went from losing five-straight games to going on a five-game winning streak on the back of strong defensive performances by a team without their star center.
"We just decided to just focus on the thing that was the most essential and most important, also the most simple things like just running back or communication," Gobert said. "It's been very fun to watch."
Watching is good; playing is better. The recent run of play just made the three-time Defensive Player of the Year that much more antsy to come back; and he didn't need much time to remind everyone of his massive impact on the game.
With 10:21 left in the first half, Gobert had played about seven minutes, and in those minutes the Jazz outscored the Rockets 27-2.
Welcome back, Big Fella.
With Gobert back, the Jazz rolled past the Rockets 135-101 Monday for their sixth-straight victory.
"It's great, just his presence. We all know how good he is, how important he is for this team both offensively and defensively," said Bojan Bogdanovic, who had 22 points in the win. "Offensively, rolling to the basket, grabbing those offensive boards and putbacks ... and his defense, we all know what he does."
When Gobert missed five games in January due to COVID-19, the Jazz went 1-4 and lost each game by double digits. The team was a mess defensively, and that began a monthlong stretch where the Jazz didn't just struggle to win but struggled to stay competitive in any game.
Gobert returned this time to a team that had learned how to play without him.
"Our energy is different," Gobert said. "I feel like something happened within our team. That slump really sparked something. I feel like we're a team that's trying to accomplish something."
Gobert finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes and helped lead a 16-0 run between the first and second quarters that pushed Utah's lead to over 20, where it would stay for most of the game.
How crazy was Utah's first half?
Houston shot 50% or better from both the field and from 3-point range in the first two quarters and still trailed by 25 points at the break.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder said he was happy with the way that Gobert fit right back in — pointing to an early play that was called for Gobert in the post. The scoring opportunity wasn't there for Gobert when he got the ball, so instead he swung it out for an open shot.
"I think that is important," Snyder said. "It's emblematic of what our team's been doing."
Mike Conley was a reflection of that, as well. The Jazz point guard had one of his worst shooting nights of the season going 1 for 8 from the field and missing all six 3-point attempts. But Snyder praised how he still found a way to make an impact in the game.
"It's really important for our whole team to know that you have the ability to impact the game, even if you're not scoring," Snyder said. "When your shot's not going down, what can you do to help your team, and Mike's play tonight showed that."
Donovan Mitchell had 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead the Jazz; he was 9 of 15 from the field and 5 of 9 from 3-point range.
Danuel House Jr. made his first appearance after signing with the team for the rest of the season and scored 8 points off the bench. He also brought the usual defensive energy that won the front office, his coaches and his teammates over.
Gobert had a minute restriction in his first game back but ended the night even earlier than planned after picking up his second technical foul in the fourth quarter. That, though, had little impact on the game.
The Jazz jumped out to a 24-point lead in the second quarter in the wire-to-wire victory and led by double digits for the final three quarters.
