Jazz-Grizzlies Injury Report: Starter Ruled Out

The Utah Jazz will be facing a short handed Memphis Grizzlies team on Friday night.

The Utah Jazz face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday evening at the FedExForum. Utah will continue to be without starting center Walker Kessler due to an elbow injury.

Memphis has a laundry list of players who are in danger of missing the game. Derrick Rose and Xavier Tillman have been declared out, while Jake Laravia (toe), Ziaire Williams (hip), and John Kochar (hip) are questionable. 

This will be a battle between two teams that have not played well to begin the season. Memphis enters the contest with a 1-7 record and will still be without All-Star Ja Morant as he serves his 25-game suspension. 

In Morant’s absence, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane have picked up the slack, averaging 47.5 points a game between the two. The Grizzlies have struggled in close games this season, with an 0-4 record in games decided by seven points or less.

As for the Jazz, head coach Will Hardy continues searching for more continuity with his players. Hardy reshuffled the starting lineup in Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Despite losing by double digits, the new starting unit did far better than it had done in the past. Ochai Agbaji and Keyonte George started the game over an injured Kessler and Talen Horton-Tucker. 

This will also be the first game for both teams that counts towards the in-season tournament. The Jazz will play the four teams in their group with the goal of advancing to the knockout round when the tournament becomes a single-elimination affair. 

The final four teams will compete for a grand prize of $500,000 per player. The second-place prize is $200,000, while the third and fourth will receive $50,000 each.

Utah will be in West Group A with the Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers. The tip-off for tonight is at 6:00 p.m. MST.

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