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Rudy Gobert missed two games with a sprained ankle when the Jazz went east three weeks ago, and Utah lost to both the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic.
The Jazz hope they'll be better this time around, because Gobert is sidelined again and the wait to get him back onto the floor will be a lot longer.
Gobert is out indefinitely with a sprained MCL in his left knee, the team announced Wednesday afternoon. The 7-foot-1 center, who was hurt during practice earlier in the day, is the Jazz' defensive anchor and is one of the best rim-protecting big men in the NBA.
"It's a big blow to us for sure," Jazz forward Derrick Favors told The Tribune on Wednesday evening. "But we have to step up. We have to find a way to play well without him and hold it down until Rudy returns."
Gobert will not need surgery. The Jazz did not announce a timeline for his return, but the thinking is he will be out of action for at least 6-to-8 weeks.
How do the Jazz replace him? Forward Trevor Booker and backup center Jeff Withey seem likely to get more minutes in Gobert's absence. It should also be a chance for Snyder to get more time to develop rookie Trey Lyles. Rookie 7-footer Tibor Pleiss is with the D-League Idaho Stampede, but with a schedule heavy on games and light on practice over the next few weeks, it's not guaranteed that he'll be recalled immediately.
Without Gobert, more pressure falls on Favors as Utah's lone significant interior presence.
Ironically, Jazz coach Quin Snyder talked after Wednesday's practice about his team's relative good health, noting the Jazz "haven't been hit with injury too much." He added: "The thing we have to make sure of and what our guys are responsible for is to keep themselves ready to play."
With Favors out against the Pelicans last Saturday, Booker had his best game of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Normally the backup power forward, Booker's minutes figure to increase.
Still, it's tough to overstate how big of an impact Gobert makes defensively. He is the dominant figure in the league's No. 3 defense. He's fourth in the NBA in blocked shots, averaging 2.6 rejections per game. He also averages 11 rebounds — good for sixth in the league — and nine points per game. Opponents are shooting 36 percent at the rim against him, lowest in the league.
"Thanks for your support everybody," Gobert said via Twitter. "I will work hard to get back on the court stronger and as soon as my knee is ready to go!"
Gobert became a full-time starter last February, after the Jazz traded Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder a few days past the all-star break. Gobert spearheaded Utah's defense over the last half of the season, as the Jazz went 19-10 to close.
After being injured Wednesday, Gobert got an MRI at the University of Utah, and was diagnosed with a "Grade 2" sprain, which means there is a partial tear of the ligament. TOSH orthopedic surgeon Roy Trawick said he would expect a player to miss about 6-8 weeks with that type of injury.
"His game down in the post is pivoting and lateral movements. Thats' going to be the big issue," Trawick said. "Once they're healed, they're solid. The big thing is giving it time and letting it tighten back up. Particularly for a defensive superstar like he is, you want to protect your investment."
He is the second Jazz starter to suffer a major injury this year. Guard Dante Exum suffered a torn ACL during the summer and won't return until next season.
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MCL timeline
• New Orleans Hornets forward Carl Landry suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain on Feb. 4, 2012, and returned to the court March 24.
• Center Greg Stiemsma, also with New Orleans, was injured Nov. 12, 2013 and returned to play on Dec. 30.
• Memphis center Marc Gasol missed 23 games after suffering the same injury on Nov. 22, 2013. He returned to play on Jan. 14.