The Utah Jazz are getting healthy!
Sort of.
Okay, not really.
But they are welcoming Derrick Favors back to the lineup following a 13-game absence while dealing with a bone contusion in his left knee. Here’s ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon with the lowdown:
Favors isn’t expected to play much against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as he will be on a strict minutes restriction. He returned to practice this week and was a full participant Tuesday.
“I don’t want to try to do too much too soon,” Favors told Utah reporters Monday. “I want to get back into a rhythm and get in shape.”
Favors playing at all is a win, albeit a small one when you factor in the rest of the Jazz’s injuries.
Alec Burks remains sidelined indefinitely following ankle surgery, George Hill won’t suit up against the Oklahoma City Thunder as he deals with a toe injury, and both Dante Exum (knee) and Rodney Hood (hamstring) are listed as game-time decisions.
Losing so many games and so much talent to injury would cripple most teams, and Utah is by no means playing as well as everyone expected. But they are 15-10, firmly in the Western Conference’s playoff race, with the fifth-best net rating in the NBA—behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
That’s a big deal. It allows you to wonder how good they could be if they ever get fully healthy with more than a glimmer of optimism.
