Jazz Again Shorthanded As They Prepare For Detroit

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to their health as they prepare to host the Detroit Pistons tonight.

Donovan Mitchell, Hassan Whiteside, and Jared Butler are all out, while Rudy Gobert was downgraded to questionable after Friday’s shootaround.

The Pistons meanwhile will look for a season sweep of the Jazz after erasing a 22-point deficit in a victory over Utah last Monday at home.

Jazz Can’t Get Healthy

After being the last team in the NBA to lose a player to the NBA’s health and safety protocol, the Jazz haven’t been able to field a full roster for more than two weeks.

Joe Ingles was the first Jazz player to enter the COVID protocols but was quickly followed by Gobert, Butler, Rudy Gay, Elijah Hughes, Udoka Azubuike, and most recently Whiteside who remain in the league’s protocol more than a week after first entering.

Mitchell meanwhile is still feeling the effects of a concussion he suffered in Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Update: Rudy Gobert is listed as questionable for tonight's game against the @detroitpistons. #TakeNote | @KSLSports

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 21, 2022

Before facing the Pistons, Gobert was added to the Jazz injury report as questionable due to left ankle soreness.

In total, the Jazz have been missing at least one of their top-nine rotation in each of the last eight games, and in many cases, several rotation players have been forced to sit.

As a result, the team is just 2-6 since COVID found its way into the locker room, and there appears to be no immediate end in sight to the team’s health woes.

Pistons Look For Season Sweep

The Pistons can guarantee themselves a season sweep of the Jazz with a win in Salt Lake City.

So far this season the Pistons have yet to be able to clinch a perfect record against any one opponent.

Detroit has just two road wins against Western Conference teams this season defeating the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings and are just 2-8 in 10 interconference road games.

The @utahjazz miserable defense was exposed in another embarrassing loss to a non-playoff team. #TakeNote https://t.co/4xiNr2DUst

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 11, 2022

However, the Pistons did beat the Kings 133-131 on Wednesday night fueled by a 30 point outing by Saddiq Bey.

Detroit erased a 22-point first half lead against the Jazz Monday thanks to a 29 point, eight assist performance from rookie Cade Cunningham.

Broadcast

The Jazz and Pistons will tip-off at 7 pm MT and can be heard on The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.

Follow @benshoops