Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) runs directly into Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) as the Utah Jazz host the Oklahoma City Thunder for game three of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Photo: Adam Fondren, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz announced Ricky Rubio will not play Game 1 Sunday against the Houston Rockets. He could miss an extended period of time as well.
The Jazz’s starting point guard strained his left hamstring in the first quarter of the Jazz clinching win Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No return date has been set, but Rubio could be out as many as 10 days after an MRI on Saturday.
After the report came out Rubio expressed his optimism. “Never too high, never too low,” Rubio said on his Twitter page.
In the first round against the Thunder the point guard averaged 14 points per game, dished out 7 assists, and pulled down 7.3 rebounds. In Game 3 he had a triple-double in a 115-102 victory for the Jazz. It was the first triple-double in a playoff game since John Stockton in 2001.
The Jazz will again have to rely on rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell. He scored 38 points on 26 shots in Game 6 Friday. Despite not having Rubio, Mitchell remains confident.
The schedule for the series will depend on the outcome of Milwaukee and Boston games tonight. Tip-off against the Rockets is at 1:30 PM Sunday on ABC.