Rudy Gobert returns to Jazz, Gordon Hayward exits early with food poisoning

The Utah Jazz’s Gordon Hayward was hooked up to an IV most of Sunday sick with food poisoning. He started Game 4 in the Jazz’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers but exited early due to persisting symptoms.

The news wasn’t all bad for the Jazz. Center Rudy Gobert returned Sunday after missing almost all of the previous three games with a knee injury. He announced his arrival with a massive dunk at the beginning of the game and had 15 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes of Utah’s 105-98 victory.

Hayward played just nine first-half minutes in Game 4 and eventually left the arena to recover at home. He is averaging 21.9 points per game and 34.5 minutes per game this season. He averaged 26.3 points in the first three games of the series against the Clippers, including a 40-point performance in Game 3.

The series is tied 2-2. Game 5 is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles.