Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors Expected to Play vs Carlotte Hornets
Utah Jazz big man Derrick Favors has missed the last two games due to rest, but he’s expected to return against the Charlotte Hornets.
For the Utah Jazz, injuries continue to tell the tale of the season. In addition to Rodney Hood’s continuing knee problems, the team was without Derrick Favors against the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. Favors was held out for rest during those two games, and wasn’t doing any contact activity at practice.
In his absence, the Jazz were able to defeat a sub-.500 Bucks squad, but fell to the playoff-bound Grizz. With a game against the Charlotte Hornets next on the docket, it looks as though Favors is on target for a return to the court.
According to reports, he went through all of practice on Friday and is probable to play against the Hornets on Saturday.
Favors has been battling knee problems all season long. As a result, he hasn’t looked like himself, averaging just 9.3 PPG and 6.0 RPG on the season. In his two games absence, the Jazz started Trey Lyles at power forward against Memphis, and started Boris Diaw against Milwaukee.
Lyles failed to score against the Grizzlies, while Diaw had two points in his start against the Bucks.
Hopefully Favors is well rested and feeling healthy for the game against the Hornets. He had one of his better games of 2016-17 when the teams squared off in Charlotte earlier this season. Although the Jazz fell 104-98 in that game, Favors played 35 minutes and had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hornets, meanwhile, completed a trade this week, acquiring Miles Plumlee from the Bucks. It is currently unclear if the 28-year-old forward from Duke will make his Hornets debut against the Jazz. Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes were sent to the Bucks in the trade.
Oct 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Miles Plumlee (18) dunks the ball in the third quarter during the game against the Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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The Jazz will be looking for their 32nd win of the season against Charlotte. They are inching closer to the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Charlotte has cooled off after a hot start to the season, and are sitting with a 23-27 record, putting them at the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. They will be hungry for a win, as they have now dropped six straight games.
Utah should be pretty well rested for the match-up. Heading into the game, they will have had two days off.
