Jazz-Rockets Semi-Finals: Injury Report Reveals Two Surprise Scratches

The Utah Jazz face the Houston Rockets in a matchup of the unbeatens.

The Utah Jazz look to stay undefeated in Las Vegas when they take on the Houston Rockets in the 2023 Summer League. Utah continues to be without its three first-round picks from the 2023 NBA draft.

Taylor Hendricks (hamstring), Brice Sensabaugh (knee), and Keyonte George have been ruled out, as have Ochai Agbaji (back), and Johnny Juzang (quad), while Luka Samanic is questionable with upper back tightness. 

Jazz Injury Report (as of 7/16):

OUT - Ochai Agbaji (Low Back Tightness)

OUT - Keyonte George (Right Ankle Sprain)

OUT - Taylor Hendricks (Right Hamstring Strain)

OUT - Johnny Juzang (Left Quad Contusion)

OUT - Brice Sensabaugh (Left Knee Surgery Recovery)

QUESTIONABLE -…

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, the Rockets will be short-handed as well, with Amen Thompson (ankle), Jabari Smith (rest), and Tari Eason (rest) slated to be absent for Sunday afternoon's tilt.

The Jazz are one of the four teams to make the playoffs, with the semi-finals on Sunday and the championship game on Monday night. The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will face off in the other semi-final matchup.

Hopefully, Samanic will play. He combined with Juzang for 46 points on Friday night in a 97-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns. 

Despite missing Sunday's action, Juzang continues to make his case to be on the opening night roster. The shooting guard out of UCLA has averaged 17.7 points in his last four games and is showing the Jazz brain trust he can be a reliable long-distance shooter. In Utah’s four games in Las Vegas, Juzang has shot 12-for-23 from the three-point line.

Samanic is also proving that he’s capable of putting up points when asked upon. The former first-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs scored 22 points on Friday night, including four three-pointers. Samanic should see an uptick in volume against the Rockets with George, Hendricks, and Sensabaugh not playing. 

Tip-off is at 4:00 pm MDT.

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