Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will play Thursday night’s Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks with a swollen face after being stung by bees from his own hive.
Gobert, sporting swelling between his nose and right eye, told reporters after Utah’s midday shootaround that his vision isn’t affected.
Gobert said he owns a hive at his Salt Lake City-area home. He said the bees have been agitated in recent days after he worked with a beekeeper to change the queen bee in the hive.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has apparently taken living in the Beehive State to heart. He also said it wasn’t a bad thing to get stung.
“It’s actually good to get stung by a bee,” Gobert said. “It doesn’t look like it is right now. … There are actually some health benefits. Some people get stung on purpose — I didn’t.”
The Jazz are looking to sting the Mavericks in a win-or-else matchup. Dallas leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.
Gobert said this is the third time he has been stung since purchasing the hive about a year ago.
“I always felt great the next few days after for some reason,” Gobert said of being stung.
Gobert is averaging 12.4 points and 13.4 rebounds in the series.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is listed as “available” to play despite injuring a hamstring in Game 5. The 25-year-old is averaging 26 points on 37.9 percent shooting with 5.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds in the series.
–Field Level Media
Julius Randle scored 24 points and dished 11 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 117-93 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western…
Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards left the Timberwolves’ Thursday playoff game against the Golden State Warriors in Minneapolis after sustaining a sprained left ankle on a drive to the rim. Edwards…
Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry was hit by a countersuit seeking $100 million on Thursday from an ex-employee who maintains the billionaire subjected her to years of sexual harassment…
Wolves’ Anthony Edwards exits due to ankle injury
Ex-Bucks owner Marc Lasry subject of sexual misconduct suit
Nuggets leaning on experience, Thunder on road prowess in Game 3
A’ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces’ early exit in ’24