Carlos Boozer holds three of the top five spots for the most rebounds in a playoff game for the Jazz.
A powerhouse of the Western Conference during the 1990s and early 2000s, the Utah Jazz have several elite playoff performances in franchise history. Here, we’ll take a look at the five top individual rebounding performances in the postseason for players wearing the Jazz jersey in the history of the NBA, a list that features two names: Carlos Boozer and Karl Malone.
Carlos Boozer, 22 rebounds (2009 Western Conference First Round, Game 3)
Boozer pulled down a franchise-best 22 rebounds in an 88-86 win over the Lakers in Game 3 of the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. However, it would be the only game the Jazz would win in that series, as the Lakers ultimately advanced to the semifinals after dispatching Utah in five games. Boozer had a loaded stat line in that game. Aside from pulling down 22 boards, he also added 23 points (9-17 FG, 5-6 FT), two assists, a steal and a block across 35 minutes.
Karl Malone, 22 rebounds (1989 Western Conference First Round, Game 2)
Before Boozer matched his franchise record in 2009, Malone was in sole possession of having the most rebounds in a playoff game for the Jazz when he grabbed 22 boards in a 99-91 loss to the Warriors in the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs. The Jazz would get swept in that series despite Malone posting strong numbers, although his best output came in Game 2, when he finished with 37 points (13-25 FG, 11-14 FT), 22 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block across 45 minutes.
Karl Malone, 21 rebounds (1991 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 3)
Malone came close to matching his career-best rebounding mark in the playoffs during the 1991 NBA Playoffs — more precisely in Game 3 of the Western Semifinals against the Trail Blazers. The Jazz won that game by a 107-101 score, and Malone certainly made his presence felt in that contest after finishing with 30 points (12-29 FG, 6-6 FT), 21 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks across 41 minutes. That would be the only game the Jazz would win in the series, though, and the Blazers would ultimately advance to the Western Conference Finals in five games.
Carlos Boozer, 20 rebounds (2007 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1)
Boozer reached the 20-rebound haul for the first time in a playoff game as a member of the Jazz in the 2007 NBA Playoffs against the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. In the series opener, the (then) 25-year-old forward finished with a 17-point, 20-rebound double-double in a 116-112 victory while also adding three assists and three steals. The Jazz would go on to win that series 4-1, and Boozer averaged 24.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game in those five contests.
Carlos Boozer, 20 rebounds (2010 Western Conference First Round, Game 6)
Boozer also reached the 20-rebound tally during Game 6 of the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs when the Jazz played the Nuggets in a 112-104 win that would clinch the Jazz’s berth in the conference semifinals. Boozer ended that game with 22 points (10-14 FG, 2-4 FT), 20 rebounds, five assists and a steal across 46 minutes of action. This was one of four instances in which Boozer grabbed at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game as a member of the Jazz.
