Mitchell Returns Against Wolves In Shorthanded Battle
Dec 31, 2021, 2:23 PM
Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz drives against the Minnesota Timberwolves (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Neither the Utah Jazz nor the Minnesota Timberwolves will be at full strength when they face off on New Year’s Eve in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz are planning to rest All-Star point guard Mike Conley, while reserve Joe Ingles is listed as questionable with a back injury.
The Timberwolves meanwhile continue to be ravaged by the COVID-19 virus that has wreaked havoc on the NBA in recent weeks.
Conley Leaves, Mitchell Returns
The Jazz have struggled in games that Conley has missed this season, going just 0-3 in his five absences.
The team has tried to rest the veteran All-Star on either end of most back-to-back games this season, though he’s played in two of the Jazz’s last three back-to-back sets.
Donovan Mitchell is not on the @utahjazz injury report tomorrow against the @Timberwolves. #TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) December 30, 2021
The Jazz lost on the road to the Chicago Bulls early in the season with Conley, and have subsequently lost games to the lowly Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards without their starting point guard.
However, superstar Donovan Mitchell will suit up for the Jazz after missing the team’s most recent two-game road trip with a lower back injury.
Timberwolves Shorthanded Again
The last time these two teams faced off the Timberwolves were playing shorthanded with seven players in the COVID protocol.
Those names included Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Patrick Beverley, three of the Timberwolves top-five rotation players.
UPDATED Minnesota @Timberwolves Status Report in advance of tonight’s game at Utah: pic.twitter.com/GY77J4hMH4
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) December 31, 2021
Towns is still on the NBA’s COVID list and is now joined by starting guard D’Angelo Russell who had 19 points in the December 23 loss.
Edwards, Minnesota’s number one overall pick from the 2020 NBA draft will be back in uniform against the Jazz.
Broadcast
The Jazz and Timberwolves 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.
