Utah Jazz Blog – Page 89 – NBA Blog

Deron Williams out at least 2 weeks

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, who injured his left ankle at the 5:39 mark of the first quarter of Saturday night’s preseason game at Chicago.

As a result of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing conducted on Williams’ ankle earlier today, Jazz team physician Dr. Lyle Mason has determined that Williams suffered a second degree inversion sprain. The MRI also showed all bone structure and tendons in and around the ankle to be normal.

The time frame for Williams’ return to action is a minimum of two weeks.

Originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (third overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams has appeared in 242 of a possible 246 regular season games and all 29 playoff games in his first three NBA seasons, posting career averages of 15.3 points and 8.1 assists in 34.4 minutes per game. Williams started all 82 games for the Jazz in 2007-08, averaging 18.8 points and 10.5 assists in 37.3 minutes per game. He became only the third player in NBA history to total 1500+ points and 800+ assists while shooting .500+ in a single season (Kevin Johnson, Magic Johnson) and was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team.

Oct 18: Jazz 88, Bulls 80

The AP reports: Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Chicago Bulls 88-80 in a preseason game on Saturday night despite losing Deron Williams to injury in the first quarter. Williams left the game after falling awkwardly and spraining his left ankle. Williams had X-rays, which were negative, but he didn’t return to the game… Derrick Rose, the No. 1 overall pick, started and scored 11 points in 40 minutes. Tyrus Thomas, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, led the Bulls (1-4) with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Larry Hughes scored 10 points.

Deron Williams sprains ankle

The Deseret News (Tim Buckley) reports: Jazz point guard Deron Williams sprained his left ankle in the opening quarter of Utah’s preseason game tonight at Chicago. Williams was coming down after taking a 3-pointer with five minutes and 39 seconds to go in the period when he appeared to land on the foot of Bulls rookie point Derrick Rose. He sustained an inversion sprain, but X-rays on the ankle — which appeared to bend quite awkwardly — were negative.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Damn. Well, at least x-rays were negative. Hope he’s OK soon. While D-Will is out, Ronnie Price, Brevin Knight and Gerry McNamara (signed to a nonguaranteed contract) will get additional minutes. Knight is an old veteran and everyone knows what he does, but Price is still improving, while McNamara is trying to claw his way into the league.

Oct 17: Bulls 108, Jazz 105

The AP reports: Ben Gordon scored 23 points, including two free throws with 10 seconds left, to lift the Chicago Bulls to a 108-105 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Andres Nocioni added 20 points and Tyrus Thomas had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago in the game played at the Assembly Hall on the University of Illinois campus. Luol Deng and No. 1 overall draft pick Derrick Rose both had 14 points for the Bulls (1-3). Carlos Boozer was 8-for-12 from the field and finished with 21 points for the Jazz (2-3). Mehmet Okur scored 17 points and Paul Millsap added 16 for Utah, which led 52-47 at halftime.

Oct 15: Nuggets 120, Jazz 119 OT

The AP reports: J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza each finished with 19 points but were criticized by Karl for wanting to cheat out on the fast break instead of focusing on rebounds that would have sealed the win earlier. Deron Williams tuned up for his homecoming at Champaign, Ill., by scoring 22 points and collecting eight assists for Utah. Next up for the Jazz superstar is a trip to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at Assembly Hall on the Illini campus, where Williams is revered for leading the Illini to the 2005 NCAA championship game, where they lost to North Carolina… Carmelo Anthony finished with 16 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes, his first game action since the Americans beat Spain in the gold medal game in China.

Kirilenko used as 6th man

The Salt Lake Tribune (Ross Siler) reports: There’s still 17 days to go until opening night for the Jazz, but the Andrei Kirilenko experiment at sixth man moved a step closer to reality in Sunday’s 93-80 preseason victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan opted to start C.J. Miles and bring Kirilenko off the bench again, even with Carlos Boozer returning from a sore hamstring, and Kirilenko followed through on his pledge to help bring the new role to life. Kirilenko hit a shot 14 seconds after checking in and factored into all five scoring possessions to end the first quarter. He went on to lead the Jazz with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes.

Kyrylo Fesenko steps up

The Salt Lake Tribune (Ross Siler) reports: Keeping in mind that his first season coaching Kyrylo Fesenko probably felt like a lifetime, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan offered some fitting praise after watching Fesenko finish with 10 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday’s game. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen him play since he’s been alive,” Sloan said, describing the double-double as “kind of a shock.” Told what Sloan said, Fesenko searched for the right words. “You don’t hear that from Jerry a lot,” he said, “so it means a lot for me. It means a lot and it means that I’m doing the right thing, so I cannot stop. I have to keep on going.”

Oct 12: Jazz 93, Blazers 80

The AP reports: Andrei Kirilenko had 15 points and five assists, and the Utah Jazz beat the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 93-80 in a preseason game Sunday. With the exception of center Greg Oden, the Blazers’ expected starters for the season rested or were out because of injuries. Carlos Boozer played in his first exhibition game for the Jazz, who led by as many as 19 points. He missed the first two preseason contests due to a sore left hamstring. Boozer had 12 points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes… Oden has been on a plan that has him playing about 20 minutes a game during the preseason. On Sunday, the 7-foot center had six points and six rebounds in 20 minutes… Nicolas Batum led the Blazers with 16.

Matt Harpring is a mess

The Salt Lake Tribune (Ross Siler) reports: Although he continues to make slow progress in recovering from an ankle infection this summer, Harpring couldn’t even offer a best-case scenario for his return. “I have no idea what I’m going to feel like,” Harpring said. “I just know that these last 3 1/2 months have been terrible. I’m just waiting for something to change. “I’m going to keep working, keep working hard, and hopefully it’ll just change and one day I’ll be like, ‘Ooh, it’s starting to feel better. I’m right around the corner.'”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Harpring is one of those guys you never want to guard or have guard you, because he’s insanely intense to the point where you assume an elbow is about to nail you each second you’re within 10 feet of him. Every team can use a healthy Harpring.

Oct 9: Suns 96, Jazz 89

The AP reports: Matt Barnes scored 21 points and Alando Tucker added 19 as the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 96-89 on Thursday night… Raja Bell scored 11 points for Phoenix (1-1). Kyle Korver scored 16 points and Mehmet Okur had 12 points and eight rebounds for Utah, which opened with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday… Boris Diaw added nine points and eight rebounds for Phoenix, which outrebounded Utah 45-35, the second straight time Utah was outrebounded by double figures.